Rituximab Therapy in Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis: A Rare Case Report

Abstract

Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disorder characterised by accumulation of surfactant in alveoli due to impaired surfactant clearance. Although, whole lung lavage is the standard treatment of PAP, rituximab has also been introduced as a therapeutic option for PAP. A 49-year-old female patient, a known case of PAP, came to the outpatient clinic complaining of exacerbation of dyspnoea. The patient was treated with rituximab four times in a year. Finally, the clinical status and spirometry tests showed improvement. Although, the main treatment for PAP is whole lung lavage, other therapeutic options may be useful too. According to the prior case reports and the present one, rituximab can be useful in treatment of PAP.

Keywords

• anti-cd20 monoclonal antibody
• ground glass opacity
• surfactant