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. 2021 Jan 8;100(1):e24256.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000024256.

Differential cytology profiles in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in COVID-19 patients: A descriptive observation and comparison with other corona viruses, Influenza virus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Pneumocystis jirovecii

Vanessa Vedder  1 , Verena Schildgen  1 , Jessica Lüsebrink  1 , Ramona Liza Tillmann  1 , Birgitta Domscheit  1 , Wolfram Windisch  2 , Christian Karagiannidis  2 , Michael Brockmann  1 , Oliver Schildgen  1
Affiliations

Differential cytology profiles in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in COVID-19 patients: A descriptive observation and comparison with other corona viruses, Influenza virus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Pneumocystis jirovecii

Vanessa Vedder et al. Medicine (Baltimore). .

Abstract

Brochoalvelolar lavages (BALs) from patients suffering from hospitalized infections with SARS-CoV-2, other corona viruses (human coronavirus (HCoV)-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-NL63, and HCoV-HKU1), Influenza virus type A and B, Haemophilus influenzae and Pneumocystis jirovecii were compared cytopathologically.The aim of the study was to evaluate if the cellular profile detectable in BAL may be specific for the respective pathogens and could lead to diagnosis of COVID-19 even in the absence of PCR results.Differential cytology and flow cytometry datasets of 62 patients were observed and compared.We observed a significant association between individual cell pattern changes and the causing pathogen, but no general cell distribution pattern.The cytology pattern of the BAL fluid in COVID-19 is not specific enough to use it as a sole diagnostic criterion, although it may support clinical decision making.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of cytological parameter measured by staining and flow cytometry of COVID-19 bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and matched groups of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from patients with other single infections.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of flow cytometry data obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of COVID-19 patients matched to other groups with single infections.
Figure 2 (Continued)
Figure 2 (Continued)
Comparison of flow cytometry data obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of COVID-19 patients matched to other groups with single infections.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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