Bronchoalveolar lavage and the diagnosis of lower airway disease in horses

Equine pulmonary disease and especially the terminology of lower airway dis ease have been subject to discussion. Besides established terms such as 'Ch ronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease' (COPD) and Chronic bronchitis, the ter m 'small airway disease' (SAD) has been introduced for respiratory disease with inflammation in the lower airways in combination with exercise intoler ance. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) enables the practitioner to diagnose SAD in an early stage when there are no other signs such as coughing or exudat e in the trachea. The BAL fluid is microscopically examined after centrifug ation. BAL cytology, especially neutrophilia, eosinophilia, anti an increas e in mast tells. is important. not only to decide whether SAD is present bu t also to determine in the choice of therapy.