title: The utility of bronchoalveolar lavage findings in the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)-nucleated cell counts and the lipid-laden alveolar macrophage index (LLMI) have been investigated in predicting chronic aspiration as well as reflux esophagitis with variable results. To date, BAL neutrophil percentages and the LLMI have not been described in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate BAL neutrophil percentages and LLMI levels in patients with EoE and compare these levels in patients with aerodigestive concerns without biopsy-proven EoE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of patients referred to an aerodigestive evaluation team for overlapping aerodigestive complaints (dysphagia, stridor, subglottic stenosis, feeding intolerance, and chronic aspiration). Patients underwent microlaryngoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy, and bronchoscopy and BAL were indicated by symptoms. BAL neutrophil percentages, LLMI levels, esophageal biopsy results, and esophageal dual-probe pH/impedance were recorded and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-one patients were included in the study that underwent comprehensive workup for aerodigestive complaints. Patients were subdivided into two groups: (1) negative esophageal biopsy (for EoE) and (2) positive esophageal biopsy. There were no significant differences between the groups in percentage neutrophils (p=0.55, unpaired t-test) or LLMI levels (p=0.14, unpaired t-test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BAL neutrophil percentages and the LLMI are unreliable in identifying patients with silent aspiration and gastroesophageal reflux. To date, there is no report of the utility of BAL neutrophil percentages and the LLMI in diagnosing patients with EoE. Our series indicates no correlation in neutrophil percentages or LLMI in patients with EoE versus patients without EoE that are referred to tertiary centers with aerodigestive concerns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BAL neutrophil percentages and LLMI levels are not a reliable predictor of eosinophilic esophagitis in children with complex aerodigestive concerns. Esophageal biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis of EoE and the challenge remains to find other markers that raise suspicion for EoE for the non-gastroenterologist or that stage the extent of disease beyond the esophagus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Yawn
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Pulmonary Medicine, Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, Nashville, TN 37232 USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fazili
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA.
authors.forename: Gwen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Provo-Bell
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232 USA. Electronic address: christopher.t.wootten@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wootten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage / Q000379:methods*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Asthma; Bronchoalveolar lavage; Eosinophilia; Eosinophilic esophagitis; Laryngeal inflammation; Lipid-laden macrophage index