Citation

Drent M, Cobben NA, Henderson RF, Jacobs JA, Wouters EF, van Dieijen-Visser MP. Eur. Respir. J. 1996; 9(11): 2416-2418.

Affiliation

Dept of Pulmonology, University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, European Respiratory Society)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8947093

Abstract

A 30 year old man developed lipoid pneumonia after an injection of lamp oil. In addition to "foamy" alveolar macrophages, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid analysis showed an increased number of neutrophils. Moreover, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase activities were elevated. The increase seen in LDH activity both in serum and BAL fluid was accompanied by shifts in the isoenzyme pattern in similar directions for both fluids. These findings suggest a pulmonary source for the temporary serum as well as BAL fluid LDH increase. This case indicates the usefulness of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis as a probe to detect pulmonary injury caused by a pneumotoxicant and, probably, to monitor recovery or deterioration.

Language: en