Development of a Core Outcome Set for Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP)

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare lung disease of characterized by the filling of alveoli with proteins, phospholipids, and some other flocculated material. It can be caused by hereditary dysfunction of the granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (GM-CSF) receptor, autoantibodies against GM-CSF, or other diseases leading to alveolar macrophage (AM) dysfunction. There is no consensus on which outcomes should be assessed in studies of patients with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Therefore, it is very necessary and urgent to establish a Core outcome set (COS) for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis to enhance the efficiency and overall quality of clinical research.

Relevant COS: Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis is a rare disease and there is currently no relevant COS.

Aim

To develop a consensus-based Core Outcome Set (COS) for PAP for use in future clinical trials and studies.

Contributors

Jin Xiong, M.B.B.S.
College of Pediatrics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Ruobing Lei, M.Sc.
Chevidence Lab of Child & Adolescent Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Zhengxiu Luo, M.D
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
Yaolong Chen, M.D
Chevidence Lab of Child & Adolescent Health, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China

Further Study Information

Current Stage: Ongoing
Date: April 2024 - September 2026
Funding source(s): None


Health Area

Disease Category: Lungs & airways

Disease Name: Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis

Target Population

Age Range: 0 - 100

Sex: Either

Nature of Intervention: Any

Stakeholders Involved

- Patient/ support group representatives
- Researchers

Study Type

- COS for clinical trials or clinical research
- COS for practice

Method(s)

- Consensus meeting
- Delphi process
- Interview
- Literature review

Phase 1 (Completed & Published): A scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines was conducted to identify outcomes in PAP research. This phase has been completed and published.

Phase 2 (Ongoing): Semi-structured interviews with PAP patients to identify patient-important outcomes. Thematic analysis will be applied.

Phase 3 (Planned): A multi-stakeholder Delphi survey (minimum 2 rounds) using a 9-point Likert scale to rate outcome importance.

Phase 4 (Planned): A consensus meeting to finalize the Core Outcome Set through anonymous voting.