[Bronchoalveolar lavage. The humoral parameter spectrum in bronchial carcinoma and chronic bronchitis]

The concentrations of tissue-polypeptide antigen (TPA), ferritin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-aGP), transthyretin (TBPA), alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-Pi), alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-MG), C-reactive protein and IgA were determined in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid of 13 patients with chronic bronchitis and 11 with bronchial carcinoma and accompanying bronchitis. Measurement of TPA, alpha 1-Pi, ferritin and transthyretin provides useful additional information in the diagnosis of bronchial carcinoma. The ratios of TPA/TBPA, alpha 1-Pi/TBPA and alpha 1-aGP/TBPA differentiate highly sensitively between bronchial carcinoma and chronic bronchitis.