The Dignostic Significance Of Hemosiderin-laden Macrophage In Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid For Pulmonary Diseases

Hemosiderin-laden macrophages(HLM) are macrophages whichphagocytose red blood cells overflowing from the blood vessels whenpulmonary hemorrhage happens,and hemoglobins degrade in lysosomes,form of a kind of pigment granules that can be seen by lightmicroscope.Generally we detect Hemosiderin by Prussian blue stainprocedure. In order to identify the diagnostic significance of HLM inbronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） for common pulmonarydiseases, we carried out the statistical analysis of hemosiderins in BALFof hospital patients(102) who accepted bronchoscopy in Changhaihospital from April to October2012. These patients weregrouped according to diagnosis as well as the clinical andbiological indicators,we set those normal people who had acceptedbronchoscopy and BALF at the same period to controlgroup.These slides were stained with Prussian blue, and then counted by 2experienced experts to calculate HLM index. Respectively, eachexperimental group were compared to controlgroup,then analysed these results by statistical software SPSS. Mainresults:(1) HLM in BALF are closely related to two indicators: renalinsufficiency (creatinine>177μmoI/L); smoking (>10pack years).(2) HLM index is higher inhemoptysis patients than in patients to whom hemoptysis didn’thappen.(3) pulmonary fungal infections (especialy, invasive pulmonaryaspergillosis) are more vulnerable to hemosiderins thanbacterial, viral infection or tuberculosis.(4) patients with lung abscess orbronchiectasis have high HLM index. Overall, HLM in BALF have arelatively guiding role in the diagnosis of common lung diseases.