Clinical usefulness of bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with interstitial lung diseases: a pilot study

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), also known as diffuse lung parenchymal diseases (DLPD), are a heterogeneous group of more than 100 entities that may share some common clinical, radiographic, physiologic and pathologic manifestations, however have differences in their underlying etiology, molecular pathophysiology and prognosis. The current classification scheme consists of disorders of known causes, [e.g., connective tissue disease (CTD)], disorders of unknown causes [also termed as idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs)], granulomatous lung diseases (e.g., sarcoidosis) and other miscellaneous ILDs (1). Given their etiological complexities, the diagnosis and management of ILD are a challenge to physicians. Multidisciplinary approach is recommended as the preferred process to establish a diagnosis of IIPs, but its role in management of other forms of ILDs remains elusive (2)