Segmental Bronchoalveolar Lavage

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)153 enrolled

Overview

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure conducted by placing a small fiberoptic scope into the lung of a patient, and injecting sterile water (saline) into the lung and removing the fluid. The sterile solution removed contains secretions, cells, and protein from the lower respiratory tract. This sample can be analyzed to provide more information about possible disease processes going on in the lungs. This protocol will be used to perform BAL, bronchial brushing, and bronchial wall biopsy in normal volunteers and patients with pulmonary disease. The samples collected during the study will be used to examine biochemical processes in the lung that may contribute to lung disease

This protocol proposes to perform bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial brushing and bronchial wall biopsy in research volunteers and in patients with pulmonary disease to evaluate the cellular components of normal and diseased lungs. This research study will help to improve our understanding of pathogenic mechanisms in the lung during progression of pulmonary disease.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

153

Conditions

Asthma Pulmonary Fibrosis

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

* INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients and research volunteers will be accepted for bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage only if their heath status will not be compromised by the procedure. Examples of disease that may be studied under this protocol include alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; lymphangioleiomyomatosis and the cystic lung disease; pulmonary fibrosis; and sarcoidosis. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients or research volunteers with abnormalities that contraindicate, or increase the risk of, fiberoptic bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage, including a history of allergy to atropine, lidocaine, or other topical anesthetics or premedications; FEV(1) less than 0.8 liters; PaO(2), on supplemental 02, of less than 70 mmHg or PaCO(2) greater than 45 mmHg; presence of uncorrected clotting disorder, uncontrolled hypertension, significant cardiac disease, renal or liver failure; metastatic disease; hematologic disorders such as severe anemia (hemoglobin less than or equal to 7 g/ml), granulocytopenia, or platelet disorders. Patients or research volunteers with a positive serum test for human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis B or C. The rationale for excluding participation on the basis of HIV seropositivity is because of the known effects of HIV on the lungs. Patients or research volunteers who are pregnant or lactating. Patients or research volunteers incapable of giving informed consent.

Segmental Bronchoalveolar Lavage

Overview

Conditions

Eligibility

Locations (1)