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Respiratory system
Respiratory system
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Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis

Definition:
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a disease in which a phospholipid (a compound widely distributed in living cells) accumulates within spaces in the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged.

Alternative Names:
Alveolar proteinosis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

In some cases, the cause of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is unknown. In others, it is associated with infection or immune deficiency.

This rare disorder generally affects people 30 to 50 years old and is seen in men more often than in women.



Review Date: 5/7/2003
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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