Usefulness of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid in the Early Diagnosis of Pulmonary Infections with Diffuse Pulmonary Infiltration

Abstract

We investigated the usefulness of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)in the early diagnosis of cytomegalovirus pneumonia(CMVP), pneumocystis carinii pneumonia(PCP)and miliary tuberculosis(MTbc). This study included 41 patients : 4 patients with CMVP, 10 patients with PCP, 7 patients with CMVP and PCP, and 20 patients with MTbc. The early diagnostic rate obtained by analysis of BALF was 72.7% in CMVP, 100% in PCP and 40% in MTbc. BALF PCR assay in CMVP, BALF Grocott's stain and PCR assay in PCP, BALF smear and PCR assay in MTbc were useful for early diagnosis. Analyusis of BALF with PCR assay may be of great value in the early diagnosis of these pulmonary infections with diffuse pulmonary infiltration.