Bronchoalveolar lavage in eosinophilic pneumonia before and during corticosteroid therapy.
In 5 untreated patients with eosinophilic pneumonia of unknown origin, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was characterized by a markedly increased number of eosinophils (mean +/- 1 SD:42 +/- 22% of effector cells), which reverted to normal during treatment with corticosteroids. These findings indicate that besides the classic patterns of increased lymphocytosis or polymorphonuclear leukocytosis, a predominantly eosinophilic pattern also may be present in the BAL fluid.
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology*; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones