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Bronchoalveolar Lavage of Murine Lungs to Analyze Inflammatory Cell Infiltration
Published on: May 4, 2017
[Bronchoalveolar lavage and pulmonary sarcoidosis]
Tatjana Pejcić1, Ivana Stanković, Milan Rancić
1Klinicki centar, Nis.
Insights
Bronchoalveolar lavage analysis in pulmonary sarcoidosis reveals lymphocytic alveolitis as a key diagnostic indicator. This finding aids in the accurate identification of interstitial lung diseases.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Immunology
- Diagnostic Cytology
Context:
- Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid analysis is crucial for diagnosing interstitial lung diseases.
- Pulmonary sarcoidosis diagnosis often relies on a combination of clinical, radiological, and pathological findings.
Purpose:
- To examine the cellular composition and immunophenotypisation of BAL fluid in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.
- To identify reliable cellular markers for diagnosing sarcoidosis.
Summary:
- A prospective study of 58 sarcoidosis patients found that 96.55% exhibited lymphocytic alveolitis.
- Hypercellular lavage fluid with a predominance of CD4+ lymphocytes and an elevated CD4+/CD8+ ratio were common findings.
- Pulmonary function tests showed preserved ventilation in 71% but reduced transfer factors in 69%.
Impact:
- Lymphocytic alveolitis in BAL fluid is proposed as a highly effective criterion for diagnosing pulmonary sarcoidosis.
- This research enhances understanding of BAL fluid's role in sarcoidosis diagnostics.
- Findings may refine diagnostic protocols for interstitial lung diseases.
Introduction:
Bronchoalveolar lavage is a procedure of washing out of the lungs and the lavage fluid may contain different immunophenotypisation cells. Accordingly, the analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid is an important part in diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases. The aim of this study was the examination of cellular composition of the lavage fluid in patients with lung sarcoidosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS This prospective study included 58 patients (30 women, 28 men), average age 42+ 10.32 years, who underwent standard biochemical analysis, lung radiography, lung function, analysis as well as analysis of cellular composition and immunophenotypisation of lavage fluid cells.
Results:
43/58 patients had the first radiological stage of sarcoidosis; 8/58 had second and 7/58 had third radiological stage of sarcoidosis. The majority of patients had preserved lung ventilation (71%), changes in small airways and obstructive ventilation disorder was established in 22% patients, and 7% of' patients presented with restrictive ventilation disorder. The pulmonary transfer factor for CO and transfer coefficient were reduced in 40/58 patients (69%), even in those with normal ventilation. The majority of patients 53/58 had hypercellular lavage fluid, 96.55% of patients had lymphocytic alveolitis (x 34%) in regard to relative reduction of alveolar macrophage (x 63%). The immunophenotypisation of lavage fluid done in 25 patients showed the domination of CD4+ lymphocyte (x 54%) and raised ratio CD4+/CD8+.
Conclusion:
Our results show that lymphocytic alveolitis is one of the best criteria in the diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis.
