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Research on fibrosis described by scientists at University of Duisburg-Essen
2009 JUL 13 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to recent research from Essen, Germany, "According to the 2002 ATS/ERS Consensus Classification, a confident diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) without surgical lung biopsy is made with consistent clinical/physiological findings and the typical features on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and/or transbronchial biopsy, one of four major criteria in the 2000 ATS/ERS IPF Statement, was no more essential in the diagnostic algorithm of 2002 ATS/ERS Consensus Classification." "To evaluate the additional utility of BAIL for the diagnosis of IPF. A total of 101 patients with suspected IPF on HRCT were studied. Twenty-seven patients were excluded because of lack of functional impairment (n = 20), an underlying condition causing fibrosis (n = 5), or a clinical history inconsistent with IPF (n = 2). The remaining 74 patients met all the criteria recommended in the 2002 ATS/ERS Consensus Classification for making a diagnosis in the absence of surgical biopsy. The final diagnosis was made with further examinations, including pathological analysis, in patients who showed inconsistent findings for IPF on BAL. A cut-off level of 30% for lymphocytes in BAIL demonstrated a favorable discriminative power for the diagnosis of IPF. Six of the 74 patients (8%) showed a lymphocytosis of 30% or greater in BAL. Their final diagnoses were idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (n = 3) and extrinsic allergic alveolitis (n = 3). The change in perception of the diagnosis was validated by a surgical biopsy in two cases and by subsequent outcome in four cases," wrote S. Ohshimo and colleagues, University of Duisburg-Essen. The researchers concluded: "BAL lymphocytosis changed the diagnostic perception in six of 74 patients who would have been misdiagnosed as having IPF without BAL." Ohshimo and colleagues published their study in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (Significance of Bronchoalveolar Lavage for the Diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2009;179(11):1043-1047). For additional information, contact U. Costabel, University of Duisburg Essen, Faculty Medical, Tueschener Weg 40, D-45239 Essen, Germany. Publisher contact information for the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine is: American Thoracic Society, 1740 Broadway, New York, NY 10019-4374, USA. Keywords: Germany, Essen, Biopsy, Critical Care, Diagnostics, Fibrosis, Hepatology, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Interstitial Lung Disease, Lymphocytosis, Physiology, Respirology, Surgery, University of Duisburg-Essen. This article was prepared by Gastroenterology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Gastroenterology Week via NewsRx.com.
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