Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis

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Respiratory system

Alveolar proteinosis; Pulmonary alveolar phospholipoproteinosis

• Cough
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Weight loss

There may be no symptoms.

The doctor may hear crackles ("rales") in the lungs. Often, the physical examination is normal.

The following tests may be done:

• Bronchoscopy with saline wash of the lungs (lavage)
• Chest x-ray
• High-resolution CT scan of the chest
• Pulmonary function tests
• Open lung biopsy (surgical biopsy)

Review Date: 06/10/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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