[Evaluation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with B-cell lymphoma before and after COP-BLAM therapy].

In order to elucidate focal immunity of the lung before and after treatment of malignant lymphoma, evaluation was made of peripheral blood (PB) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) before and after COP-BLAM therapy. Ten patients with untreated B cell lymphoma without any abnormal shadow in the lung fields were studied. After treatment, slight increases in the total cell counts and macrophages in BALF were observed. In patients with pulmonary complications after treatment, the CD4/CD8 ratio in PB did not change after treatment, but it did change in BALF after treatment in patients with lung disease. According to 2-color analysis, CD4+CD45RA+ cells and CD4+HLA-DR+ cells were lower in BALF before treatment in patients with lung disease, suggesting some relationship with lung complications. The CD4/CD8 ratio of lymphocytes within BALF increased after COP-BLAM therapy, probably owing to NHL itself or to chemotherapy.