title: Usefulness of the analysis of broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) cellular composition in diagnosis and monitoring of pulmonary sarcoidosis treatment.
abstract: The paper presents the results of the analysis of BAL composition in 45 patients with diagnosed pulmonary sarcoidosis in various phases of its development. The examination was performed before the treatment, in the 6th week and 3rd month of the treatment and after its termination. In the treatment encorton was applied for 2 years. In the analysis of cell composition of the lavage the percentage of lymphocytes, macrophages and granulocytes was calculated. Before the treatment the high percentage of lymphocytes occurred along with relatively diminished percentage of macrophages. The highest lymphocyte level was noted in the pulmonary phase of sarcoidosis which amounted to 58.8 +/- 15.5 and the lowest in the nodulary phase 38.5 +/- 14.1. In the 6th week of the treatment BAL cell composition approached the control value. The results obtained hereby evidence that the changes in BAL cell composition may be successfully applied in the diagnosis, dynamics of development and monitoring of sarcoidosis treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tuberculosis and Pulmonary Diseases, Military Clinical Hospital, Wrocław.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szklarz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone