[Surfactant phospholipids in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in smokers with healthy lungs and non-smokers].

The surfactant phospholipids were determined in the BA1 fluid of 9 smokers and 9 non-smokers with no disease of the lungs. The total phospholipid content was reduced significantly in smokers to 10 +/- 6 nmol/ml as compared with 24 +/- 10 nmol/ml in the non-smokers (p less than 0.02). The composition of major phospholipid fractions (phosphatidyl-choline and phosphatidyl-ethanolamine) did not differ between the two groups. Possible reasons for this reduction of surfactant in smokers are discussed.