Abstract
Fifteen infants with acute pneumonia, mean age 11 months (Group I) and 24 immuno-depressed (ID) children with severe interstitial pneumonitis, mean age 8 1/2 years (Group II) were studied using broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL). Each BAL fluid (F) examination comprised : 1) cytological examination (CE) 2) virological study 3) total proteins (TP) and Ig classes (G, A, M) concentrations quantification. Specific activity (Act) of anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) Ig anti bodies (Ab) was titrated simultaneously in BALF and sera by ELISA method, only in ID. Group I : 7 viruses were isolated : para influenza type 1 (1), 3 (1), adenoV type 1 (1), 2 (1), 6 (1), RSV (2) ; CE was normal (4) or showed an increase in polymorphonuclears (PN) (2) or lymphocytes (L) count (C). Group II : 2 viruses were isolated : measles (1) RSV (1) with increase in PNC and in IgG/TP ratio ; in 2 other cases (with bone marrow transplantation) o local pulmonary production of anti CMV IgG/Ab was observed (increase in BALF Act/sera Act ratio) with LC increase.
In conclusion BAL in children is a safe productive mean in diagnosis of virus infection responsible for severe pneumonitis and reveals a local correlative increase in PNC or LC and IgG production.
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Grimfeld, A., Sardet, A., Bernaudin, J. et al. BRONCHO-ALVEOLAR LAVAGE IN PULMONARY VIRAL INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN. Pediatr Res 19, 1103 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198510000-00201
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198510000-00201