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Prognostic value of neutrophils and NK cells in bronchoalveolar lavage of sarcoidosis.

AbstractBACKGROUND: Not all the patients with sarcoidosis need pharmacological therapy, and the decision to start therapy is based mainly on clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the leukocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from these patients. METHODS: Thirty-three nonsmoking patients with sarcoidosis were included and classified based on the presence of Löfgren's syndrome (n = 11), the radiological stage (12 at Stage I, 17 at Stage II, and 4 at Stage III), and their follow-up. Differential leukocyte subsets and the lymphocyte subpopulations were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The percentage of neutrophils was lower in patients with Löfgren's syndrome (P = 0.038) and in patients at Stage I (P = 0.002). Patients with a poor outcome had a higher percentage of neutrophils (P = 0.004) and NK cells (P = 0.023) than those with a stable disease. Finally, a higher percentage of NK cells was found in those patients who needed a steroid treatment (P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Increased percentages of neutrophils and NK cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with sarcoidosis are associated with a poor outcome and a higher probability to need steroids treatment. The percentage of neutrophils was also lower in patients with Löfgren's syndrome.
AuthorsPablo Tutor-Ureta, María J Citores, Raquel Castejón, Susana Mellor-Pita, Miguel Yebra-Bango, Yolanda Romero, Juan A Vargas (Affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Departamento de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. pbttur2 at terra.es)
JournalCytometry. Part B, Clinical cytometry (Cytometry B Clin Cytom) Vol. 70 Issue 6 Pg. 416-22 (Nov 15 2006) ISSN: 1552-4949 United States
PMID16977633 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
CopyrightCopyright 2006 International Society for Analytical Cytology.
Chemical References
  • Steroids
Topics
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (cytology, immunology)
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry (methods)
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural (pathology)
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutrophils (pathology)
  • Prognosis
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary (diagnosis, drug therapy, pathology)
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Steroids (therapeutic use)
  • Syndrome