Abstract
The authors investigated cell populations in BALF in 7 patients with BOOP. In the acute phase, characteristic findings included an increase in the total cell counts, an increase in the percentage of lymphocytes and a decrease in the OKT4/OKT8 ratio, but there was no increase in the percentage of eosinophils. These findings tended to normalize in the remission phase. Some cases revealed abnormal BALF findings even in the remission phase, so it seems to be necessary to clarify whether abnormal BALF findings in the remission phase correlate with the recurrence of BOOP. Cell findings in BALF with BOOP were similar to those with hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Results suggested that there was room to discuss whether BOOP was an independent disease.
