[Bronchoalveolar lavage and pulmonary sarcoidosis].

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.