Assessment of airways inflammation utilizing bronchoalveolar lavage.
Pathologic correlations and examination of expectorated sputum have suggested that chronic bronchitis is an inflammatory disorder of the airways. Bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage provide a means for sampling airway epithelial lining fluid. Application of bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage to a group of patients with chronic bronchitis confirms the association of airways inflammation and chronic bronchitis.
Thompson
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Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical School, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha.
Rennard
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SI
D001991:Bronchitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans