Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Treated with Oral Ambroxol Hydrochloride and Bronchoalveolar Lavage

A 59-year-old man visited our hospital in June 1997 because of cough and dyspnea at rest. He was diagnosed as pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial lung biopsy. The alveoli were distended with pink homogeneous material that showed staining with the periodic acid Schiff method. The concentration of surfactant protein A in BAL fluid was significantly increased. We treated the patient with oral ambroxol hydrochloride and therapeutic BAL. We believe that this combination of therapies is the first choice for the treatment of PAP.