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Diagnostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage in ocular sarcoidosis
Author(s) -
Bienfait M. F.,
Hoogsteden H. C.,
Baarsma G. S.,
Adriaansen H. J.,
VerheijenBreemhaar L.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1987.tb07075.x
Subject(s) - sarcoidosis , bronchoalveolar lavage , medicine , lymphocytosis , uveitis , subclinical infection , pathology , lung , immunology
Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is an investigation which has already proven its value in the diagnosis and follow‐up of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. It also appears to be a valuable contribution to the diagnosis of patients presenting with ocular sarcoidosis. We evaluated the findings in BAL in 16 cases with suspected ocular sarcoidosis (14 cases of uveitis, one with eyelid‐swelling and one with an inflammatory process of the lacrimal gland). BAL was positive in 11 cases e.g. showed a lymphocytosis with predominantly T 4 + helper lymphocytes. There was one patient with ocular signs very suspect for sarcoidosis (a perivasculitis with candle wax infiltrates) with a normal percentage T lymphocytes (2%) in BAL. In two cases BAL was positive and showed a subclinical alveolitis, whereas no changes were seen on the chest X‐ray and in Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) level.