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Shortness of Breath Not Going Away? Ask Your Doctor for a Blood Test
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare lung disease often misdiagnosed due to symptom similarities with other conditions. The
What are its symptoms? Some people who are living with aPAP may not show sy- mptoms initially, while others may have progressive short- ness of breath. Additional symptoms include chronic cough, fatigue, unintentional weight loss and chest pain.
Why is aPAP commonly misdiagnosed? Since aPAP is so rare, and because symptoms are similar to other more common lung diseases, it is often misdiag- nosed. Common misdiagno- ses include both acute and chronic lung diseases such as pneumonia and asthma.
How is aPAP diagnosed?
If you are diagnosed with another lung disease and the treatment is not effective, your doctor may recommend a chest CT scan. If you have an abnormal chest scan with unresolved lung symptoms, you should also talk to your healthcare provider about getting a free, simple blood test called aPAP ClearPath, which measures the level of the GM-CSF antibodies in your blood to determine if you have the disease.
American Lung Association’s campaign aims to improve aPAP awareness and diagnosis.
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is an ultra-rare lung disease with approximately
How is aPAP treated? Currently, there is no cure
for aPAP and no FDA-ap- proved therapies; however, symptoms can be managed. The most common treatment is whole lung lavage, (WLL) also called “lung washing.” WLL washes out the built-up surfactant from the lungs, allowing you to breathe more easily. This treatment often needs to be repeated, as it do- esn’t address the underlying cause of the disease.
Managing aPAP well means seeing a specialist who is familiar with this rare lung disease and going to all of your regularly scheduled healthcare appointments.
To learn more, visit www.Lung.org/PAP
Without treatment, this progressive disease can inc- rease the risk of infection and lead to respiratory failure that may become life threatening. Don’t wait. Talk to your doc- tor if your respiratory symp- toms are not being managed with current treatments.
3,600 diagnosed cases in the United States. Unfortunately, some people are potentially living with the disease with- out knowing it, as it is often misdiagnosed.
That is why the American Lung Association, with support from Savara Inc., is launching a new educational campaign to help health-
care providers and patients better recognize the signs and symptoms of autoim- mune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, (aPAP), the most common form of the disease. As part of the campaign, they are sharing these fast facts:
What is aPAP? This disease is characterized by the ab- normal buildup of surfactant in the air sacs of the lungs, which can make breathing difficult. The buildup is due to an inability to clear the surfactant. Occurring in both males and females, aPAP is often diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 60.
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