[Cellular bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) components and pulmonary function in chronic extrinsic allergic alveolitis]

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and pulmonary function tests were carried out in 22 patients with chronic, extrinsic allergic alveolitis. In all a marked decrease of diffusion capacity was observed. The mean DLCO values was 34% predicted value. In 94% of the patients compliance was lowered. More pronounced abnormalities of pulmonary function (decrease of TLC and DLCO) were found with low BAL lymphocyte counts and increased macrophages count. The duration of the disease correlated with the absolute lymphocyte BAL count (r = -0.43). The BAL differential can be an additional measure of severity, duration of the disease process in chronic, extrinsic allergic alveolitis.