Ryushi Tazawa1,15, Bruce C. Trapnell2, Yoshikazu Inoue3, et al. Published ahead of print on February 18, 2010. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 181. pp. 1345-1354, (2010)
Rationale: Inhaled granulocyte/macrophage–colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a promising therapy for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) but has not been adequately studied.
Objectives: To evaluate safety and efficacy of inhaled GM-CSF in patients with unremitting or progressive PAP.
Methods: We conducted a national, multicenter, self-controlled, phase II trial at nine pulmonary centers throughout Japan. Patients who had lung biopsy or cytology findings diagnostic of PAP, an elevated serum GM-CSF antibody level, and a PaO2 of less than 75 mm Hg entered a 12-week observation period. Those who improved (i.e., alveolar–arterial oxygen difference [A–aDO2] decreased by 10 mm Hg) during observation were excluded. The rest entered sequential periods of high-dose therapy (250 µg Days 1–8, none Days 9–14; x six cycles; 12 wk); low-dose therapy (125 µg Days 1–4, none Days 5–14; x six cycles; 12 wk), and follow-up (52 wk).
Measurements and Main Results: Fifty patients with PAP were enrolled in the study. During observation, nine improved and two withdrew; all of these were excluded. Of 35 patients completing the high- and low-dose therapy, 24 improved, resulting in an overall response rate of 62% (24/39; intention-to-treat analysis) and reduction in A–aDO2 of 12.3 mm Hg (95% confidence interval, 8.4–16.2; n = 35, P < 0.001). No serious adverse events occurred, and serum GM-CSF autoantibody levels were unchanged. A treatment-emergent correlation occurred between A–aDO2 and diffusing capacity of the lung, and high-resolution CT revealed improvement of ground-glass opacity. Twenty-nine of 35 patients remained stable without further therapy for 1 year.
Conclusions: Inhaled GM-CSF therapy is safe, effective, and provides a sustained therapeutic effect in autoimmune PAP.
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