title: Characterization of cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of children with recurrent obstructive bronchitis.
abstract: In children 1 to 6 years of age with recurrent obstructive bronchitis bronchoalveolar lavage was performed to obtain material to allow characterization of the cell-types present on the bronchoalveolar surface. Recurrent infections may produce a chronic mucosal inflammation which was observed bronchoscopically in the symptom-free periods, too. Two main components of the lavaged cells were alveolar and NAML macrophages with morphological, cytochemical and functional features of mononuclear phagocytes. It seemed that the persistence of bacteria in the respiratory tract induces an increased influx of macrophages without PMN accumulation. This inflammation may constitute the morphological basis of frequent relapses which sometimes occur without any sign of respiratory infection.
mesh_terms: D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology*; D012008:Recurrence; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation