Biomaterial Database

Role of bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of pulmonary infiltrates in immunocompromised patients. 2014

Kyle R Brownback, and Laura A Thomas, and Steven Q Simpson

Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.

OBJECTIVE To describe the role of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in the evaluation of pulmonary disease in immunocompromised patients. RESULTS Recent discoveries in this field are largely in two areas: the array of diagnostic testing performed on BAL fluid and technical details that can enhance the yield from this procedure. Regarding diagnostic testing, the addition of new assays, including Aspergillus galactomannan antigen assay, respiratory viral panels, and Pneumocystis jirovecii PCR, has improved the diagnostic yield of BAL over conventional cultures and stains. To improve the diagnostic yield of the procedure itself, it should be done early in the clinical course, with the BAL in the anatomic area most affected, and with a preprocedural computed tomography of the chest to properly plan the procedure. CONCLUSIONS Bronchoscopic evaluation with BAL can provide important diagnostic information in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary diseases and should be routinely performed when clinically indicated and able to be completed safely.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008171	Lung Diseases	Pathological processes involving any part of the LUNG.	Pulmonary Diseases,Disease, Pulmonary,Diseases, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Disease,Disease, Lung,Diseases, Lung,Lung Disease
D001992	Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid	Washing liquid obtained from irrigation of the lung, including the BRONCHI and the PULMONARY ALVEOLI. It is generally used to assess biochemical, inflammatory, or infection status of the lung.	Alveolar Lavage Fluid,Bronchial Lavage Fluid,Lung Lavage Fluid,Bronchial Alveolar Lavage Fluid,Lavage Fluid, Bronchial,Lavage Fluid, Lung,Pulmonary Lavage Fluid,Alveolar Lavage Fluids,Bronchial Lavage Fluids,Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluids,Lavage Fluid, Alveolar,Lavage Fluid, Bronchoalveolar,Lavage Fluid, Pulmonary,Lavage Fluids, Alveolar,Lavage Fluids, Bronchial,Lavage Fluids, Bronchoalveolar,Lavage Fluids, Lung,Lavage Fluids, Pulmonary,Lung Lavage Fluids,Pulmonary Lavage Fluids
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016867	Immunocompromised Host	A human or animal whose immunologic mechanism is deficient because of an immunodeficiency disorder or other disease or as the result of the administration of immunosuppressive drugs or radiation.	Immunosuppressed Host,Immunocompromised Patient,Host, Immunocompromised,Host, Immunosuppressed,Hosts, Immunocompromised,Hosts, Immunosuppressed,Immunocompromised Hosts,Immunocompromised Patients,Immunosuppressed Hosts,Patient, Immunocompromised,Patients, Immunocompromised
D018893	Bronchoalveolar Lavage	Washing out of the lungs with saline or mucolytic agents for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. It is very useful in the diagnosis of diffuse pulmonary infiltrates in immunosuppressed patients.	Bronchial Lavage,Lung Lavage,Bronchioalveolar Lavage,Bronchopulmonary Lavage,Lavage, Bronchopulmonary,Bronchial Lavages,Bronchioalveolar Lavages,Bronchoalveolar Lavages,Bronchopulmonary Lavages,Lavage, Bronchial,Lavage, Bronchioalveolar,Lavage, Bronchoalveolar,Lavage, Lung,Lavages, Bronchial,Lavages, Bronchioalveolar,Lavages, Bronchoalveolar,Lavages, Bronchopulmonary,Lavages, Lung,Lung Lavages