[Histochemistry of the pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. A contribution to the formal pathogenesis (author's transl)].

By means of histochemical methods the authors investigated 3 cases of the diffuse and 2 cases of the focal form of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (2 women and 3 men, aged from 25 to 58 years). In the main the results of other investigators concerning distribution and occurrence of proteins and lipids are confirmed. In contrast to the results of other investigators, the authors detected acid mucopolysaccharides also in the granules of the intraal veolar substance. Presumable the injuring substance causes proliferation, desquamation, and breakdown of the alveolar cells. In this way both the granules and clots are formed, the latter ones are decomposed in steps of granules. Obviously parts of the blood are mixed with the granular part of the intraalveolar substance.