Case Reports

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in a child from an informal settlement: 12 litres of fluid drained from the lungs and successful use of ECMO

Debbie A White, Susan R Klugman, Ronit Weil, Elias Zigiriadis, Robin J Green

Abstract


Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare cause of chronic interstitial lung disease, characterised by accumulation of pulmonary surfactant, respiratory insufficiency and an increased incidence of infections. The current standard therapy is whole-lung lavage to remove the accumulated surfactant. We report on a cachexic 12-year-old boy from an informal settlement in South Africa, presenting for the first time with PAP. Twelve litres of broncho-alveolar lavage fluid were drained under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and the patient gained 10 kg during his 2-month admission.


Authors' affiliations

Debbie A White, Division of Paediatric Pulmonology, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Susan R Klugman, Division of Paediatric Pulmonology, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Ronit Weil, Division of Paediatric Pulmonology, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Elias Zigiriadis, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Robin J Green, Division of Paediatric Pulmonology, Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

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Keywords

Paediatrics; broncho-alveolar lavage; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Cite this article

South African Journal of Child Health 2013;7(4):155-157. DOI:10.7196/SAJCH.599

Article History

Date submitted: 2013-03-16
Date published: 2013-11-18

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