Dynamics of the ultrastructural changes in blood and lymphatic capillaries of bronchi in inflammation and following endobronchial laser therapy.

An ultrastructural and autoradiographic analysis of changes in 188 biopsy specimens of bronchial mucosa of the large bronchi from 76 patients with chronic inflammatory lung diseases was carried out. Fibrosis results in an apparent reduction of metabolic activity in endothelial cells, affecting the proliferation of basal cells with changes in cell differentiation. Endobronchial laser therapy with an helium-neon laser induces proliferative and metabolic processes in the lamina propria of the bronchial mucosa with hyperaemia, intensive diapedesis of leucocytes and formation of leucocytic infiltrations and granulation tissue. The proliferative and metabolic activity of endothelial and stromal cells increases, and delicate fibrous connective tissue is formed.