Clinical Importance of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid and Blood Cytokines, Surfactant Protein D, and Kerbs von Lungren 6 Antigen in Idiopathic Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis

Patients with iPAP had elevated levels of SFTPD, KL-6, and cytokines in both BALF and blood. Elevated levels of KL-6 in both BALF and blood may be valuable in reflecting disease severity of patients with iPAP and in determining the need for therapeutic lung lavage.