[The role of BAL in the process of decision making with regard to the treatment of sarcoidosis].

The results of a preliminary analysis on the role of lymphocyte count on prognosis of therapy outcome and influencing the decision to start therapy carried out on 21 patients with sarcoidosis are presented. The decision to commence treatment was carried out after BAL was performed but the results of it were not taken in account. The patients were observed for 7 to 33 months. The course of the disease was assessed basing on clinical, radiological and functional examination. In 6 patients a control BAL was carried out. The results allow to state that high lymphocyte BAL counts do not have to be poor prognostic factors. On the other hand low counts cannot predict a benign clinical course. In the discussion the authors evaluate, basing on literature data, the role of BAL in sarcoidosis.