Bronchoalveolar Lavage as a Diagnostic Tool

Keith C. Meyer

doi:10.1055/s-2007-991527

Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Table of Contents

Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2007; 28(5): 546-560
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-991527

Bronchoalveolar Lavage as a Diagnostic Tool

Keith C. Meyer¹

¹Department of Medicine, Section of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) provides an important diagnostic tool that can facilitate the diagnosis of various diffuse lung diseases. BAL fluid can be analyzed to determine white blood cell (WBC) profiles and to detect respiratory pathogens. Although BAL is seldom useful as a “stand-alone” diagnostic test for the diagnosis of diffuse infiltrative lung disease, when combined with clinical data and high-resolution computed tomography of the chest, BAL WBC profiles can contribute significantly to the diagnosis of specific forms of interstitial lung disease (ILD). Additionally, BAL can play a very important role in the diagnosis of respiratory infection, and it is useful in monitoring the lung allograft and in evaluating pediatric lung disease. Examination of BAL cells or acellular components of BAL via gene microarray technology or proteomic analyses may allow BAL to assume a more prominent role in diagnosis and management of lung disease in the near future.

KEYWORDS

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) - interstitial lung disease (ILD) - bronchoscopy

Full Text

References

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Keith C MeyerM.D. M.S. F.A.C.P. F.C.C.P.

Department of Medicine, Section of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

K4/926 Clinical Science Center, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53792-9988

Email: kcm@medicine.wisc.edu