PULMONARY ALVEOLAR PROTEINOSIS

Course overview

PULMONARY ALVEOLAR PROTEINOSIS (PAP) IS A RARE LUNG DISEASE INVOLVING SURFACTANT ACCUMULATION WITHIN THE ALVEOLI RESULTING FROM DECREASED CLEARANCE, RATHER THAN INCREASED PRODUCTION. THIS CONDITION CAN BE CONGENITAL, SECONDARY, OR AUTOIMMUNE. AUTOIMMUNE PAP IS THE MOST COMMON PATHOPHYSIOLOGIC MECHANISM ACCOUNTING FOR 90 PERCENT OF DOCUMENTED CASES. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION, TREATMENT, AND COMPLICATIONS OF PULMONARY ALVEOLAR PROTEINOSIS AND ADDRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM APPROACH TO ITS MANAGEMENT.