• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.67 no.6
• /
• pp.569-573
• /
• 2009

Idiopathic pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disorder characterized by surfactant component accumulation in the alveolar space. Idiopathic PAP has recently been recognized as a autoimmune disease of impaired alveolar macrophage function caused by autoantibodies against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). While whole lung lavage has been the standard treatment, not every patient shows a complete response. Subcutaneous injection or inhalation of GM-CSF is another promising treatment option for PAP. A 45-year-old patient visited our hospital for dyspnea, he was diagnosed as PAP and underwent whole lung lavage. Eighteen months later, the patient had not achieved complete remission in despite of initial response. After then he was administered with GM-CSF (5 ${mu}g/kg/day$, subcutaneous injection) for fivetimes a week during 2 months. Nine months later, the abnormal shadows in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) decreased and the patient fully recovered in forced vital capacity. After 60 months, the HRCT scan showed complete remission of PAP.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.20-35
• /
• 2008

Objective : This study was designed to investigate the effects of Curcuma longa Rhizoma(CLR) on asthma. Methods : Detecting splenocyte proliferation rates, cytokines and antigen specific antibody isotypes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In addition, the present author I also investigated changes in spleen and histopathological changes of lung tissues. Results : Oral administration of CLR lowered spleen weight and splenocyte proliferation rates. In addition, levels of IL-4, IL-17A and Granulocyte/Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor(GM-CSF), Th2 driven cytokines, were lowered respectively and IFN-g, and Th1 driven cytokine, were elevated by CLR. Levels of Ovalbumin(OVA) specific IgE and IgGl in BALF were also lowered by oral administration of CLR too. Conclusion : CLR is useful to treat patients with asthma and the mechanisms are related to the in suppression of Th2 skewing reactions.