Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) cell characteristics and clinical information from sarcoidosis patients# and healthy controls¶
| Characteristics | Patients | Controls |
| Total BALF cells ×106·L−1 | 153.0 (84.6–400.0) | 73.5 (49.8–112.9)+ |
| Cell types % of total BALF | ||
| Alveolar macrophages | 83.0 (21.0–96.0) | 93.6 (82.6–97.4) |
| Lymphocytes | 16.0 (3.2–78.8) | 5.2 (2.0–16.0) |
| Neutrophils | 0.6 (0.2–5.0) | 1.0 (0.0–4.5) |
| Eosinophils | 0.0 (0.0–1.2) | 0.0 (0.0–4.0) |
| BALF CD4/CD8 cell ratio | 4.4 (0.7–12.6) | 2.1 (0.7–6.8) |
| Lung function parameters§ | ||
| VC % pred | 102 (72–121) | ND |
| DL,CO % pred | 80 (64–109) | ND |
| Chest radiographic stages I/II/III | 5/11/3 | Normal |
Data are presented as median (interquartile range), unless otherwise stated. VC: vital capacity; DL,CO: carbon monoxide diffusing capacity of the lung; ND: not done. #: n = 19; ¶: n = 20; +: median (minimum–maximum); §: values are shown as per cent of predicted 16.