Therapeutic use of bronchoalveolar lavage in a very difficult asthmatic: a case report

A patient with severe chronic asthma, who had become refractory to conventional antiasthma drugs, is described. As a last resort, therapeutic bronchoalveolar lavage was performed using beta-stimulant, steroid, and mucolytic solutions. The patient, who had had asthmatic attacks almost every day prior to lavage, showed a dramatic and sustained improvement in his condition. It is suggested that therapeutic bronchoalveolar lavage may be useful in chronic asthmatics who have become refractory to conventional treatment because of mucus plugging of their bronchi.