Utility of Bronchoalveolar Lavage and Transbronchial Biopsy in Patients with Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Making the diagnosis of HP is challenging due to a lack of consensus criteria and variability of both pathologic and radiographic findings. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the diagnostic utility of the combination of BAL lymphocyte count and TBBX in patients with HP.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients with a MDD diagnosis of HP at a single center.

Results

155 patients were included in the study. 49% of patients who underwent BAL had a lymphocyte count > 20, 42% had a lymphocyte count > 30, and 34% had lymphocyte count > 40%. The median BAL lymphocyte count was higher in inflammatory HP compared to fibrotic HP. The addition of TBBX to BAL significantly increased the diagnostic yield regardless of the

SUBMITTER: Adams TN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6576254 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature