title: [Bronchoaveolar lavage for the diagnosis of lower airway disorders in horses].
abstract: Equine pulmonary disease and especially the terminology of lower airway disease have been subject to discussion. Besides established terms such as 'Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease' (COPD) and Chronic bronchitis, the term 'small airway disease' (SAD) has been introduced, for respiratory disease with inflammation in the lower airways in combination with exercise intolerance. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) enables the practitioner to diagnose SAD in an early stage when there are no other signs such as coughing or exudate in the trachea. The BAL fluid is microscopically examined after centrifugation. BAL cytology, especially neutrophilia, eosinophilia, and an increase in mast cells, is important, not only to decide whether SAD is present but also to determine in the choice of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Hoofdafdeling Gezondheidszorg Paard, Discipline Inwendige Ziekte, Faculteit der Diergeneeskunde, Yalelaan 12-16, 3584 CM Utrecht. t.laan@vet.uu.nl
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Laan
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: van Nieuwstadt
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Breukink
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage / Q000662:veterinary*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004804:Eosinophils; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006736:Horses; D008168:Lung; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008264:Macrophages; D009504:Neutrophils; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000662:veterinary*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009626:Terminology as Topic