Bronchoalveolar Lavage in a Patient with Chronic Berylliosis: Evidence for Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Abstract

Because immunologic mechanisms may play a role in chronic berylliosis, immunologic properties of peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lymphocytes were studied in a man with this disease. Although the percent of peripheral blood T cells was slightly reduced compared to that in controls (59 vs. 70%), there was a large increase in the number and proportion (94 vs 62%) of bronchoalveolar T cells. The percent of activated bronchoalveolar T cells was nearly 5 times the control value (64.5 vs. 14%). Both peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lymphocytes proliferated in response to BeSO4 and BeF2 exposure, but the response of bronchoalveolar lymphocytes was greater than comparable numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Apparently, chronic berylliosis is a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Bronchoalveolar lavage may be helpful in establishing the diagnosis of this disease.