Abstract

Background: Conventional measures of the severity of alveolar proteinosis (AP) include alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient ([A – a]Do₂), vital capacity (VC), and carbon monoxide transfer factor (Tlco), but alternative serological measures have been sought. Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) neutralising autoantibody is found in patients with idiopathic acquired AP. We have investigated the interrelationships between the levels of this antibody and those of surfactant protein (SP)-A and -B, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and conventional measures of disease severity, and the capacity of these parameters to predict the response to rhGM-CSF treatment.

Methods: Blood levels of anti-GM-CSF antibodies, SP-A, SP-B, LDH, and [A – a]do₂, VC, and Tlco were measured before rhGM-CSF treatment and every 2 weeks thereafter in 14 patients with AP.

Results: At baseline, high levels of anti-GM-CSF antibodies and increased SP-A and SP-B levels were seen in all patients, and LDH was raised in 83%. SP-A was highly correlated with [A – a]do₂, VC, and Tlco (p≤0.02), but other markers were not. Only a normal LDH level was predictive of a response to rhGM-CSF treatment (p=0.03). During treatment a correlation between conventional and serological variables within patients was seen only between SP-A and [A – a]do₂ (p=0.054), LDH levels and [A – a]do₂ (p=0.010), and LDH levels and VC (p=0.019).

Conclusions: Of the serological parameters studied, only SP-A and LDH levels were correlated with conventional measures of disease severity, with LDH most accurately reflecting [A – a]Do₂ and vital capacity. Only a normal LDH level predicted a higher likelihood of response to treatment with GM-CSF.