Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis

Abstract

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a chronic disease of unknown etiology and duration, apparently comprising a distinct histochemical entity.^1,2 We shall describe our experience with a previously unreported case. Report of Case A 30-year-old white man, machine operator, was admitted to Brown General Hospital, Dayton Veterans Center, for the second time, June 10, 1959. For five days preceding admission, he had generalized malaise and a cough productive of approximately one-third cup of "chunks" of yellow sputum daily without associated chills or fever. The patient was well until 1955, but since that time has had 12 separate similar episodes, usually associated with chills and fever and with some exertional dyspnea which became worse with each successive attack. It was during the fourth such episode in 1956 that he was hospitalized at our institution and treated for pneumococcal pneumonia. Each time the patient complained of some aching sensation in his chest, but