Doctors at SGPGI Successfully Save Two Patients from Rare Lung Disease

Doctors at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) have successfully saved the lives of two patients suffering from a rare lung disease known as Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP). This condition causes a buildup of protein-like material inside the air sacs of the lungs, leading to difficulty in breathing and a severe decline in lung function.

 

Professor Anjum Khan, an interventional pulmonologist at SGPGI, explained that both patients were women from rural areas who were experiencing severe respiratory distress. After diagnosis, they underwent a special treatment known as Whole Lung Lavage, in which large amounts of saline solution are gradually used to wash out the accumulated protein material from the lungs.

 

This highly specialized procedure, available at only a few medical centers, was performed successfully on both patients. The doctors noted that while PAP can often be managed with this technique, in severe or resistant cases, patients may require advanced treatments such as medication, plasma exchange, or even lung transplantation.

 

Professor Alok Nath, head of Pulmonary Medicine at SGPGI, emphasized the importance of awareness about the disease, which is often misdiagnosed as tuberculosis, asthma, or other chronic lung conditions. He explained that PAP is extremely rare, affecting only about seven cases per one lakh people globally.

 

Symptoms of the disease include persistent cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and in some cases, recurrent infections. Smoking, exposure to dust, and certain blood cancers may increase the risk of developing this condition.