BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE IN CHRONIC UPPER RESPIRATORY-TRACT INFECTIONS

The relationship between upper and lower respiratory tract infections has been demonstrated previously, although the effect of chronic infec tion of one tract on the other has not been well studied. This work an alyses the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid of patients with chronic puru lent rhino-sinusitis and reveals an increase in total and neutrophil c ell counts as well as an increase in immuno-globulin A levels. The ass ociated increase in the neutrophil nitro-blue tetrazolium dye reductio n test positivity provides evidence for increased phagocytosis to comp ensate for the increased contamination of the lower respiratory tract.