Pulmonary function changes after bronchoalveolar lavage in asthmatic patients.

Pulmonary function changes were studied following bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in a group of mild to moderate asthmatic patients and in control subjects. After BAL significant decreases in FEV1 and FVC which were not inhibited by atropine and a consistent decline in PaO2 were seen in both groups. The magnitude of changes in these asthmatics was similar to that in control subjects.