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Infections Post Transplant

Bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of pulmonary complications of bone marrow transplant patients

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 25, pages 975–979 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has proved valuable in the diagnosis of pulmonary complications in immunosuppressed patients. We evaluated the diagnostic yield of BAL in pulmonary complications in bone marrow transplantation (BMT) recipients. We reviewed sequentially the records of 89 patients during an 18-month period. BAL was diagnostic in 42 patients (47%). The most common pulmonary complication diagnosed by BAL was diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (n = 15); followed by bacterial pneumonia (n = 10), respiratory syncytial virus (n = 8), aspergillosis (n = 6), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (n = 5), cytomegalovirus (CMV) (n = 4), and others (n = 4). The final diagnoses in the BAL non-diagnostic group were: bacterial pneumonia (n = 6), CMV (n = 6), idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (n = 5), cancer recurrence (n = 4), cardiogenic pulmonary edema (n = 4), and others (n = 9). We conclude that BAL is a useful diagnostic tool in BMT-related pulmonary complications. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 975–979.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    A J Huaringa, F J Leyva, J Signes-Costa, R C Morice, I Raad & A A Darwish

  2. Department of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

    R E Champlin

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  1. A J Huaringa
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Huaringa, A., Leyva, F., Signes-Costa, J. et al. Bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of pulmonary complications of bone marrow transplant patients. Bone Marrow Transplant 25, 975–979 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702335

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