title: Bronchoalveolar lavage.
abstract: Bronchoalveolar lavage is a technique for sampling the epithelial lining fluid of the respiratory tract. Analysis of cellular and non-cellular components of returned fluid has the potential to provide valuable information about airways inflammation. Because of the invasive nature of the investigation, there are few conditions for which repeat sampling can be justified. Bronchoalveolar lavage has been used to study immune mechanisms in cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung diseases and asthma. This article reviews the usefulness of BAL assessments for lung inflammation in paediatric practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, Southampton S016 6YD, UK. garyconnett@suht.freeserve.co.uk
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Connett
mesh_terms: D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology