Conclusions: FOB does not significantly affect levels of airway inflammation and fibrosis markers present in EBC before and after FOB; they were also comparable to the concentrations marked by BALF. The lack of correlation between markers levels in EBC and BALF indicates that these methods are not equivalent. Due to repeatibility, and less invasive, simple [...]

In conclusion, BALF MRP14 levels are elevated in IPF and sarcoidosis and are associated with disease severity in sarcoidosis. The results support the need for further studies into the role of MRP14 in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis. (Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology) MedWorm Message: Register for MedMatcha, MedWorm’s medical advertising network, and receive $5 [...]

Conclusions: HGF is detectable in BAL and EBC. However, it does not distinguish sarcoidosis patients from healthy subjects. The above, as well as the lack of correlations with various parameters of disease activity and severity rule out EBC/ /BALF HGF as a biomarker for sarcoidosis monitoring. PMID: 20461686 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Pneumonologia i [...]

Authors: Smojver-Jezek S, Peros-Golubicić T, Tekavec-Trkanjec J, Alilović M, Vrabec-Branica B, Juros Z, Mazuranić I Lymphocytic alveolitis is a characteristic of diverse interstitial lung diseases (ILD-s), but macrophages are often more numerous cell population in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Aim of this study is to analyze morphometric characteristics of macrophages nuclei in BALF in patients [...]

This study was designed to assess the levels of Tf in both BALF and serum and to examine the relationship between the levels of Tf and other disease markers in sarcoidosis. Subjects were 64 sarcoidosis and 10 healthy controls. Tf in BALF and serum was measured by nephelometric assay. Median Tf levels in BALF from [...]