[Phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages in children and adolescents with different bronchopulmonary pathological conditions]

A total of 68 children and adolescents suffering from tuberculosis, chronic pneumonia in the phase of exacerbation, pulmonary cysts and hamartochondroma were examined for the phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages. In pulmonary tuberculosis, the low absorption properties of alveolar macrophages were established in all the phases of a specific process. The patients afflicted with chronic pneumonia were characterized in the phase of exacerbation by discreteness of the parameters of the activity of alveolar macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid withdrawn from the focus of inflammation: the absorption activity increased whereas bactericidal one reduced.