Cell Profiles of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid as Prognosticators of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/Usual Interstitial Pneumonia among Japanese Patients

Abstract

Based on the study bias of the biopsy-proven IPF/UIP patients at stable stages, an independent variable indicating a favorable outcome was an increased BALF CD4/CD8 ratio in NCS patients, while it was difficult to identify definite prognosticators in CS patients.