Clinical cytological paralleles during chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases in children

Abstract

38 children aged 4 to 14 years old with monolateral and bilateral chronic pneumonia during exacerbation, incomplete remission, and remission phases were examined. All the patients were studied with complex examination including diagnostic bronchoalveolar lavage among rcontgenologic and bronchologic methods. The disease duration was 1.5 to 8 years; inflammation process exaceibation appeared near 3—6 times per one year. The cytologic study of the broncho-alveolar fluid in the case when the pulmonary pathology signs were absent in children (the control group) and in sick children showed that during both monolateral and bilateral chronic pneumonia the relative number of neutrofils increased and the number of macrophags decreased significantly in the BAL fluid during exacerbation and incomplete remission. During monolateral chronic pneumonia, there arc no significant differences between the inflicted and intact lung of the relative number in neutrofils in the BAL fluid. The character of endopulmonar cytogramm (EPC) as well the relative number of neutrofils depends on the course phase of the disease, the bronchiectasis presence, and in less extend the area of inflicted lung. There were not significant correlation between the EPC parameters and the periferal blood count; FPC more correctly displies the course phase of the local inflammatory process than hemogramm and clinical sympthoms. The obtained data testifies about the presence of inflammatory changes not only in large bronchi but in distal acinus segments of lung during exacerbation of chronic bronchial pulmonary diseases.