Bilateral peripheral infiltrates refractory to immunosuppressants were diagnosed as autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and improved by inhalation of granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor

Intern Med. 2012;51(13):1737-42. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.51.6093. Epub 2012 Jul 1.

Abstract

A 55-year-old non-smoking woman was admitted to our hospital for re-evaluation of unimproved peripheral ground-glass opacities despite prednisolone and cyclosporine treatment. She was diagnosed with autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) based on transbronchial lung biopsy and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) antibody testing. GM-CSF inhalation therapy markedly improved the opacities. Bilateral, centrally located lung opacities are typical in PAP, however 10 PAP cases with peripheral infiltration were reported in Japan recently, of which GM-CSF antibody was positive in six. To avoid inappropriate immunosuppressant treatment, PAP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of such peripheral opacities. GM-CSF antibody might be useful for diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Autoimmune Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / administration & dosage*
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis / diagnosis*
  • Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis / drug therapy*
  • Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis / immunology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor