Bronchoalveolar neutrophilia inversely correlates with DLCO at diagnosis in asbestosis but not lung function decline at 1 year

The role of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in the assessment of interstitial lung disease (ILD) remains controversial. Previous studies have demonstrated that BAL cell differential is useful in predicting disease progression in many forms of ILD. We wished to investigate whether BAL had a similar use in predicting disease progression in asbestosis. 21 patients who had significant asbestos exposure, findings of UIP radiologically and BAL performed as part of their investigation were reviewed. There was a significant inverse correlation between percentage BAL neutrophils and percentage predicted DL_CO at diagnosis (n=21; P=0.02; r²=–0.25; CI, –0.77-0.08), but not with DL_CO decline over 1 year. Unlike previous reports in IPF, BAL cell differential is not predictive of decline in classic asbestosis with a UIP pattern and its routine use in this cohort of patients provides little if any additional benefit.