Lymphocyte Subsets in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Children with Lung Infiltrates

Lymphocyte Subsets in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Children with Lung Infiltrates The analysis of the subpopulation of lymphocytes - CD4+, CD8+ lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of paediatric patients can provide useful information related the lung parenchyma. The aim of the paper was to analyze the results of bronchoscopy of patients presenting with persistent lung infiltrates and to find out of the diagnostic yield and complication rate of this procedure. The study is a retrospective one. The data related to paediatric findings and BAL results of the bronchoscopies were retrieved from the hospital records. BAL was performed in tracheobronchial airways (middle lobe) by bronchoscope and sent to analysis of CD4+, CD8+ lymphocytes. Bronchoscopy was performed under general anesthesia (sedation, propofol, midazolam, morphium). The records of seven patients were analyzed. All patients presented with persistent lung infiltrate (atelectasis and pneumonia). 71% of the patients with lung infiltrates in our study were below the age of 5. Our study results showed that CD4+, CD8+ lymphocytes in BAL in the studied group showed a small percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes as an immune response in 8-10% of patients, while the cellular response of CD4 +lymphocytes in the sample itself was present up to 14% in the entire group of the diseased children. There was no serious desaturation during bronchoscopy. Bronchoscopy with BAL findings of lymphocyte populations is important in the early identification of inflammation and it helps in therapeutic strategies and monitoring of inflammatory response to the given therapy. Subpopulacija limfocita u bronhoalveolarnoj lavaži kod pedijatrijskih bolesnika sa plućnim infiltratom Analiza subpopulacija limfocita u bronhoalveolarnoj lavaži (BAL) kod pedijatrijskih bolesnika može nam pružiti korisne informacije o dešavanju u parenhimu pluća. Cilj rada bio je analiza rezultata bronhoskopije i BAL-a kod bolesnika sa perzistentnim plućnim infiltratima i stope komplikacija kod ove procedure. Ovo je retrospektivna studija. Podaci o pedijatrijskim nalazima i rezultatima BAL bronhoskopija uzeti su iz bolničke evidencije. BAL je izvršena bronhoskopom unutar traheobronhalnog stabla (srednji lobus) i upućena na CD4+, CD8+ limfocita. Za vreme bronhoskopije nije zabeležena ozbiljnija desaturacija. Bronhoskopija je urađena u opštoj anesteziji (propofol, midazolam, morfijum). Analizirano je ukupno 17 istorija bolesti. Svi bolesnici imali su perzistentne plućne infiltrate (atelektazu i upalu pluća). 71% bolesnika sa plućnim infiltratima bili su mlađi od 5 god. Rezultati naše studije pokazali su da CD4+, CD8+ limfociti u BAL-u na datoj grupi pokazuju mali procenat CD8+ limfocita kao imunu reakciju kod 8-10% bolesnika, dok je ćelijska reakcija CD4+ limfocita u samom uzorku bila zabeležena kod 5%, odnosno 14% bolesnika u čitavoj grupi obolele dece. Bronhoskopija sa BAL-om je značajna metoda u identifikaciji imunog odgovora u plućima i primeni adekvatne terapije.