[Proteins in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid].

Bronchoalveolar washings contain proteins, the majority of which come from the serum by transduation. They may thus be quantified using classical immunological techniques involving commercial immune sera. The method of expression of the results varies from one author to another. Estimation of IgA is a complex interpretation because of the presence of IgA 11S and IgA 7S in the medium. Immunological estimation of alpha 1-antitrypsin offers no indication as to the inhibitory capacities of the protein.