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Lipid‐laden macrophage index in healthy canines
Author(s) -
Savchenko O.,
Dhadwal A. K.,
Pagala M.,
Bala S.,
Narwal S.,
Huang R.,
Vaynblat M.,
Marcus M.,
Kazachkov M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2006.01644.x
Subject(s) - bronchoalveolar lavage , medicine , cytology , pathology , pathophysiology , macrophage , gastroenterology , alveolar macrophage , lung , inflammation , biology , in vitro , biochemistry
Background The quantity of lipids in alveolar macrophages is used clinically as an indicator of aspiration, which is associated with increased lung inflammation. This is determined in the macrophages obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and is expressed as lipid‐laden macrophage index (LLMI). Although there is ample data on LLMI in human subjects, there is no published data pertaining to the baseline measures of the LLMI in canines, which are extensively used for experimental studies on gastroesophageal reflex (GER) and airway diseases. Primary aim of the present study was to collect data pertaining to the cytology and LLMI in BAL fluids obtained from healthy dogs. Materials and methods Eight dogs underwent a bronchoscopy with BAL collection, and esophageal pH monitoring to determine the reflux index (RI). The BAL fluid was processed and reviewed under a microscope to determine the proportions of the various cell types and the LLMI. Results The median RI among the subjects was found to be 0·6 (0·0, 1·2). The BAL cytology analysis showed 77·5% (71·0, 83·5) macrophages, 21·0 (13·0, 24·5) lymphocytes and 2·5 (1·5, 5·0) neutrophils. The median LLMI was found to be 156 (111, 208). Conclusions Although the differential cell counts in the dogs’ BAL fluid was comparable to that of other experimental animals and humans, the LLMI was distinctly higher than the corresponding value reported for other species. As LLMI is a valuable modality for evaluation of intrapulmonary pathophysiology, these data on LLMI can be used as a species‐specific standard for canine subjects used for experimental studies on GER and airway diseases.