Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis

WITHIN the past five years, and at an increasing rate within recent months, we have encountered 27 cases of a remarkable disease of the lung that consists of the filling of the alveoli by a PAS-positive proteinaceous material, rich in lipid. This material appears to be produced by the lining cells, which slough into the lumen, ultimately becoming necrotic and yielding granules and variable laminated bodies to the alveolar content. The condition bears certain resemblances to pneumocystis infection of the lung,1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 and, indeed, the possibility was considered that it represented a "burnt-out" phase of this disease. Several cases that we . . .