[Significance of the presence of mastocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnostic evaluation of diffuse interstitial lung diseases].

The cell preparations of 199 bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) were reviewed to evaluate the meaning of the presence of mastocytes for the diagnosis of diffuse interstitial lung diseases. The study population consisted of 41 control individuals, 10 with extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA), 55 with sarcoidosis 38 with asbestosis, 25 with pulmonary fibrosis associated to collagen diseases, 18 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and 12 with carcinomatous lymphangitis. Mastocytes were predominantly found in patients with EAA (8 of 10 cases) and in some cases of sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The rate of mastocytes in the patients with EAA was significantly higher than in the other groups (p less than 0.001). The presence of mastocytes in the BAL is particularly suggestive of EAA; rates higher than 3% are only found in this condition.