Abstract
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a rare condition characterized by accumulation of surfactant components, both proteins and phospholipids, within alveoli and distal airways, leading to impairment of gas exchange and eventually to respiratory failure in approximately one third of carriers. The natural history of the disease has been dramatically changed by the whole lung lavage. Studies performed using transgenic animals suggest that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors may play a role in the development of the disease, thus opening the way to innovative therapeutic strategies.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 117-119 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Studia Pneumologica et Phtiseologica |
Volume | 57 |
Issue number | 3 |
Publication status | Published - 1997 |
Keywords
- Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor
- Surfactant protein A
- Transgenic animals
- Whole lung lavage
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine