Of 21 patients with GM-CSF-autoantibody negative PAP, 13 had no other organ involvement and 8 had some form of hematologic disorder.The latter were sequenced for GATA2.
It may result from mutations in surfactant proteins or granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor genes, it may be secondary to toxic inhalation or haematological disorders, or it may be auto-immune, with anti-GM-CSF antibodies blocking activation of alveolar macrophages.
Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor is being used to improve the immunological function of patients with various diseases and to ameliorate hematological disorders.