Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Basic Research and Clinical Medicine

A practical approach to bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and its analyses, which are used worldwide in both research and clinical settings. This book includes practical guidelines with the theoretic background and provides details on microscopic and flow cytometric measurements for all known differential diagnostics made with BAL analyses, from chronic diseases like COPD, ILD via infectious diseases to inherited illness like cystic fibrosis. Includes BAL in both adult and pediatric medicine. The text is supported throughout by illustrations and clinical cases, serving as an invaluable resource for respiratory medicine and infectious disease clinicians and trainees. Key features: 1. Uses bronchoalveolar lavage in the infectious diseases field and the search for respiratory viruses using the RT-PCR technique, with contributions from worldwide experts. 2. Clarifies bronchoalveolar lavage technique and its diagnostic utility to respiratory physicians, cytologists and pathologists involved in the diagnosis of pulmonary disease. 3. Provides an updated perspective on the future applications of BAL techonology to research and clinical medicine.