Selvaraj, P and Venkataprasad, N and Vijayan, V K and Prabhakar, R and Narayanan, P R
(1988)
Alveolar macrophages in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.
Lung India, 6 (2).
pp. 71-74.
ISSN Print: 0970-2113; Online: 0974-598X
Abstract
Total and HLA-DR positive alveolar macrophages were enumerated in the broncho-alveolar
lavage fluids of active pulmonary tuberculosis, inactive pulmonary tuberculosis (treated cases), nontuberculous
lung disease patients and normal healthy individuals. A significantly increased number
of macrophages was found in the patient groups than the normal individuals: however, there was
no difference in HLA-DR positive cells. Among the different patient groups, smokers had more
macrophages as well as more HLA-DR positive macrophages than non-smokers and normal subjects
Total number of alveolar macrophages of the active tuberculosis non-smoker group was significantly
higher than the inactive tuberculosis non-smoker group and normal individuals. On the contrary,
a slightly decreased number of HLA-DR positive cells was seen in the non-smoker group of active-TB
patients. The present study suggests that infection and smoking induce the accumulation of
macrophages in the lung. The implication of these findings in relation to tuberculosis is discussed.
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