ObjectiveTo assess the methodological quality of guidelines for bronchoscopic alveolar lavage. MethodsCNKI, VIP, WanFang Data, CBM, Web of Science, PubMed, EMbase databases and medlive.cn, the National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC), the National Guideline International Network (GIN), the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), and the World Health Organization (WHO) websites were electronically searched to collect guidelines of bronchoscopic alveolar lavage from inception to December 2020. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality of the guidelines by using AGREE Ⅱ tool. ResultsA total of 19 guidelines were included, with 5 from China, 5 from the USA, 3 from Europe, 2 from the UK, 1 from Australia, 1 from Israel, 1 from Spain, and 1 from India. The average standard score rates of the 19 guidelines in the six fields were 50.73% for scope and purpose, 20.02% for participants, 15.13% for formulation rigor, 36.40% for clarity of presentation, 3.51% for applicability, and 22.37% for editorial independence.ConclusionsThe quality of bronchoalveolar lavage guidelines remains relatively low.
ObjectiveTo analyze the microbiological characteristics of airway bacteria in adult patients with bronchiectasis and to analyze their correlation with the clinical features. MethodsPatients diagnosed with bronchiectasis in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from October 2017 to April 2018 were classified into the bronchiectasis group, while the control group was those who were found to have pulmonary nodules (diameter less than 10 mm) requiring bronchoscopy by physical examination. All subjects in both groups had not used antibiotics or hormones within 4 weeks and had no other respiratory diseases. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from the lesion site of the branchial expansion group was collected, and BALF from the basal segment of the contralateral inferior bronchial lobe of the pulmonary nodule was collected in the control group. Bacterial culture and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed in both groups. ResultsSeventeen cases and six controls were enrolled in this study and the BALF specimens were collected. Eight cases were in stable period and nine cases were in acute period. The case group was divided into the bacteria-positive group and negative group based on bacterial culture of BALF. Shannon index in the bacteria-positive group was significantly lower than the bacteria-negative group and the control group. And Shannon index showed a negative correlation with positive bacterial culture in BALF. When Shannon index ≤4.5 was used to predict positive bacterial culture, the sensitivity and specificity were 83.3% and 90.9% respectively. The average relative abundance of bacteria was higher and the average sample distribution uniformity was lower in patients with acute period, compared with those in patients with stable period. Shannon index was negatively correlated with the acute exacerbation in patients. When Shannon index <5.0 was used to predict acute exacerbation, the sensitivity and specificity were 77.8% and 100.0%, respectively. ConclusionsShannon index in 16S rRNA gene sequencing results has certain predictive value for acute exacerbation stage. 16S rRNA gene sequencing combined with bacterial culture results can help guide clinicians to provide more precise treatment plans.
ObjectiveTo explore the expression of periostin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with dermatomyositis-related interstitial lung disease (DM-ILD) and rheumatoid arthritis-related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).MethodsA total of 44 patients with DM-ILD and 28 patients with RA-ILD were underwent bronchoalveolar lavage. Cells in BALF were collected and analyzed by absolute different cell counts. The level of periostin and Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results of high resolution CT of patients were scored. Thirty patients without interstitial lung disease (ILD) served as a control group.ResultsLevels of periostin and KL-6 were significantly increased in BALF of patients with DM-ILD and RA-ILD compared with control group (all P<0.05). Levels of periostin were positively correlated with lymphocyte counts and levels of KL-6 in BALF (allP<0.05). Furthermore, levels of periostin were significantly correlated with high resolution CT scores (P<0.05).ConclusionsLevels of periostin are increased in patients with DM-ILD and RA-ILD. Periostin might be served as an indicator of CTD-ILD.
Objective To investigate the diagnostic value and complications of fibrobronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infiltrates. Methods Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed in 31 immunocompromised patients. The clinical data and results of bronchoalveolar lavage were collected. In addition to conventional microbiological methods, molecular detection for cytomegalovirus( CMV) and respiratory viruses were performed. Results In all cases BAL was performed. The overall diagnostic yield of fibrobronchoscopy was 65% . The diagnosis was more likely to be established by fibrobronchoscopy when the lung infiltrate was due to an infectious agent( 86%) than to a noninfectious process( 25% ) . By molecular detection, CMV was identified in 4 cases, and other respiratory viruses were identified in 3 cases. Fever ( 23% ) was the most common complication. Conclusions Fibrobronchoscopy and BAL are effective and safe for the diagnosis of pulmonary infiltrates in immunocompromised patients. The molecular technique may help to enhance the diagnostic yield of BAL.