Abstract:
Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare disorder with only about 200 cases having been reporting worldwide. No effective treatment has been evolved as yet and the disease is fatal. Allendronate Sodium has been reported to be effective in some cases. However each dosage, duration of treatment and clinical parameters in evaluating the patient response are not specifically given in available literature. Aims and objectives of the current study were to see the effect of allendronate sodium on the treatment of PAM. This is a prospective interventional study. Cases reporting to Medical OPD with symptoms of PAM were selected for study. Patients with shortness of breath, blue discoloration of lips and failure to thrive since childhood were included in the study. Twelve cases were initially short-listed with the suspician of PAM based on history, clinical examination and preliminary investigations including X-Ray chest. They were subjected to lung biopsy, CT scan and pulmonary function tests. Cases finally diagnosed as pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis were subjected to one year treatment with Allendronate ,Sodium. They had significant improvement clinically as well as in pulmonary function tests. However, there is no improvement in X-Ray of the chest.
Page(s):
32-35
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Biomedica, Volume: 20, Issue: 1, Year: 2004