Endobronchial biopsy positive sarcoidosis: relation to bronchoalveolar lavage and course of disease.

Sixty-two patients with newly diagnosed sarcoidosis were examined with fibreoptic bronchoscopy, endobronchial biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were analysed. Epithelioid granulomatosis in endobronchial biopsies were found in 28 (45%) of the patients (BPOS). The patients in this BPOS group showed higher inflammatory activity in BAL fluid compared to those with negative biopsies (BNEG), with significant increases in lymphocyte and mast cell counts, and concentrations of procollagen III peptide and albumin. The patients were followed over a period of 2 years. The BPOS group tended to have a worse clinical course with more patients having a progressive disease and more patients requiring treatment with systemic steroids. We conclude that the findings of epithelioid granulomatosis in endobronchial biopsies may reflect a more intense and widespread inflammation in the lung.