The role of bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of suspected opportunistic pneumonia. 1987

M J Abramson, and C A Stone, and P W Holmes, and E H Tai
Faculty of Medicine, University of Newcastle, NSW.

We report 50 immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infiltrates who underwent fibreoptic bronchoscopy, including bronchoalveolar lavage, on 56 occasions. The underlying diseases were mostly lymphoma, leukemia, other malignancies and renal failure. The commonest immunodeficiency factors were chemotherapy, steroids and neutropenia. A positive diagnosis could be made from analysis of the bronchoalveolar lavage on 59% (33/56) occasions. This was a comparable yield to transbronchial lung biopsy 57% (16/27), and superior to proximal airways wash 24% (13/55), or bronchial brushings 29% (10/34). Open lung biopsy added additional diagnostic information in three of the four cases in which it was performed. The most common final diagnoses were bacterial, viral or Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and recurrent malignancy. We conclude that bronchoalveolar lavage is a safe procedure with a high diagnostic yield in the immunocompromised host with suspected opportunistic pneumonia.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008168 Lung Either of the pair of organs occupying the cavity of the thorax that effect the aeration of the blood. Lungs
D008175 Lung Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the LUNG. Cancer of Lung,Lung Cancer,Pulmonary Cancer,Pulmonary Neoplasms,Cancer of the Lung,Neoplasms, Lung,Neoplasms, Pulmonary,Cancer, Lung,Cancer, Pulmonary,Cancers, Lung,Cancers, Pulmonary,Lung Cancers,Lung Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Lung,Neoplasm, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Cancers,Pulmonary Neoplasm
D009894 Opportunistic Infections An infection caused by an organism which becomes pathogenic under certain conditions, e.g., during immunosuppression. Infection, Opportunistic,Infections, Opportunistic,Opportunistic Infection
D011014 Pneumonia Infection of the lung often accompanied by inflammation. Experimental Lung Inflammation,Lobar Pneumonia,Lung Inflammation,Pneumonia, Lobar,Pneumonitis,Pulmonary Inflammation,Experimental Lung Inflammations,Inflammation, Experimental Lung,Inflammation, Lung,Inflammation, Pulmonary,Inflammations, Lung,Inflammations, Pulmonary,Lobar Pneumonias,Lung Inflammation, Experimental,Lung Inflammations,Lung Inflammations, Experimental,Pneumonias,Pneumonias, Lobar,Pneumonitides,Pulmonary Inflammations
D011019 Pneumonia, Mycoplasma Interstitial pneumonia caused by extensive infection of the lungs (LUNG) and BRONCHI, particularly the lower lobes of the lungs, by MYCOPLASMA PNEUMONIAE in humans. In SHEEP, it is caused by MYCOPLASMA OVIPNEUMONIAE. In CATTLE, it may be caused by MYCOPLASMA DISPAR. Mycoplasma Pneumonia,Pneumonia, Primary Atypical,Mycoplasma dispar Infection,Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae Infection,Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection,Atypical Pneumonia, Primary,Atypical Pneumonias, Primary,Mycoplasma Pneumonias,Mycoplasma dispar Infections,Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae Infections,Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infections,Pneumonias, Mycoplasma,Pneumonias, Primary Atypical,Primary Atypical Pneumonia,Primary Atypical Pneumonias
D011020 Pneumonia, Pneumocystis A pulmonary disease in humans occurring in immunodeficient or malnourished patients or infants, characterized by DYSPNEA, tachypnea, and HYPOXEMIA. Pneumocystis pneumonia is a frequently seen opportunistic infection in AIDS. It is caused by the fungus PNEUMOCYSTIS JIROVECII. The disease is also found in other MAMMALS where it is caused by related species of Pneumocystis. P carinii Pneumonia,P. carinii Pneumonia,P. jirovecii Pneumonia,PCP Pneumonia,Pneumocystis Pneumonia,Pneumocystosis,Pneumonia, Interstitial Plasma Cell,PCP Infection,Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia,Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia,Pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii,Infection, PCP,P carinii Pneumonias,P. carinii Pneumonias,P. jirovecii Pneumonias,PCP Infections,PCP Pneumonias,Pneumocystis Pneumonias,Pneumocystoses,Pneumonia, P carinii,Pneumonia, P. carinii,Pneumonia, P. jirovecii,Pneumonia, PCP,Pneumonia, Pneumocystis jirovecii,Pneumonias, PCP
D011024 Pneumonia, Viral Inflammation of the lung parenchyma that is caused by a viral infection. Pneumonias, Viral,Viral Pneumonia,Viral Pneumonias
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
D001999 Bronchoscopy Endoscopic examination, therapy or surgery of the bronchi. Bronchoscopic Surgical Procedures,Surgical Procedures, Bronchoscopic,Bronchoscopic Surgery,Surgery, Bronchoscopic,Bronchoscopic Surgeries,Bronchoscopic Surgical Procedure,Bronchoscopies,Surgeries, Bronchoscopic,Surgical Procedure, Bronchoscopic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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