title: Prognostic value of neutrophils and NK cells in bronchoalveolar lavage of sarcoidosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Not all the patients with sarcoidosis need pharmacological therapy, and the decision to start therapy is based mainly on clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the leukocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three nonsmoking patients with sarcoidosis were included and classified based on the presence of Löfgren's syndrome (n = 11), the radiological stage (12 at Stage I, 17 at Stage II, and 4 at Stage III), and their follow-up. Differential leukocyte subsets and the lymphocyte subpopulations were determined by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of neutrophils was lower in patients with Löfgren's syndrome (P = 0.038) and in patients at Stage I (P = 0.002). Patients with a poor outcome had a higher percentage of neutrophils (P = 0.004) and NK cells (P = 0.023) than those with a stable disease. Finally, a higher percentage of NK cells was found in those patients who needed a steroid treatment (P = 0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased percentages of neutrophils and NK cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with sarcoidosis are associated with a poor outcome and a higher probability to need steroids treatment. The percentage of neutrophils was also lower in patients with Löfgren's syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Departamento de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. pbttur2@terra.es
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tutor-Ureta
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Citores
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castejón
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mellor-Pita
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yebra-Bango
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vargas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids