title: [Bronchoalveolar lavage findings in the pulmonary impairment related to systemic sclerosis].
abstract: The main objective of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the findings of the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and the lung function in patients with systemic sclerosis and subsequent pulmonary impairment. The study was retrospective and included 17 cases with systemic sclerosis and pulmonary involvement investigated at "Marius Nasta" Institute. Bucharest, between January 1999-August 2001. Lung function assessment found the following: VC (% of predicted) = 82.5 +/- 14; DLCO (% of predicted) = 67.5 +/- 23.2. Cell count in BAL fluid showed: total number of cells x 10(6) = 11.5 +/- 6; lymphocytes (%) = 22.9 +/- 15.4; neutrophils (%) = 15.2 +/- 13.4; eosinophils (%) = 1.9 +/- 0.9; macrophages (%) = 58.1 +/- 19.8. We also compared the cell pattern according to DLCO value: the patients with DLCO > 80% had increased levels of eosinophils (5.2 +/- 4.9 vs 0.9 +/- 0.2, p = 0.007) while the group with DLCO < 80% presented significantly higher levels of neutrophils (16.1 +/- 15.5 vs 12.6 +/- 2.8, p = 0.003) compared to the group with normal lung function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with systemic sclerosis and normal lung function present an increased level of eosinophils in BAL fluid, suggesting a transitory alveolitis. In change, those with DLCO < 80% have a higher level of neutrophils, usually associated to pulmonary fibrosis. The investigation by BAL appears to be a reliable tool for the assessment of the pulmonary impairment related to systemic sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Institutul National de Pneumologie, Marius Nasta, Bucureşti.
authors.forename: Mălina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ioanăş
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ioniţă
authors.forename: Luminiţa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cerviş
authors.forename: Nicoleta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bîscă
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serbănescu
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage / Q000379:methods*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014109:Total Lung Capacity / Q000502:physiology