Plasma cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of a patient with eosinophilic pneumonia. Morphologic proof of local production of antibodies

Chest. 1988 Jan;93(1):110-3. doi: 10.1378/chest.93.1.110.

Abstract

We describe a case of eosinophilic pneumonia in which plasma cells appeared in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). A 49-year-old man presented with wheezing, lung infiltrates, peripheral eosinophilia, and extremely high IgE levels in serum and BALF. A differential count of BALF revealed 56.6 percent lymphocytes and 1.3 percent plasma cells. The appearance of plasma cells suggests local maturation of B cells and represents a morphologic proof of local production of immunoglobulins. The increased number of lymphocytes suggests their role in B cell differentiation via the lymphokine network.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Albumins / analysis
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / analysis
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / analysis
  • Immunoglobulins / biosynthesis*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasma Cells / pathology*
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / immunology
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Eosinophilia / pathology*

Substances

  • Albumins
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Immunoglobulin E