engleski

Differences in BAL macrophages cytology determined by morphometric analysis in patients with sarcoidosis

Background: Morphometric and image cytometric DNA analysis of the macrophages nuclei in BAL fluid of patients with sarcoidosis have been investigated in order to establish their diagnostic and clinical significance. Methods: Investigated morphometric parameters were: area, outline, convex area, length, breadth, maximal radius, minimal radius, form factor (FF), elongation factor (EF), area/convex area (ACA), DNA index (DI), percentage of cells before histogram peak, percentage of cells in peak, percentage of cells after histogram peak, percentage of cells in S-phase and G2M phase. Seventy-three patients were included in the investigation, separated in four groups: sarcoidosis with acute onset (n=16), sarcoidosis with chronic onset (n=17), interstitial lung diseases other then sarcoidosis (n=30) and controls (n=10). Results: Statistical significant differences were observed between groups in all statistical descriptions of morphometric parameters area, outline, convex area, length and maximal radius of the macrophages nuclei in BAL fluid (p<0, 05) and in percentage of the cells in S-phase between patients with acute and chronic sarcoidosis determined with DNA cytometric analysis of BAL fluid. Multivariate discriminant forward step-wise analysis resulted in classification functions for investigated groups allowing 100% separation of sarcoidosis patients with acute and chronic sarcoidosis. In all, 43 variables of morphometric and DNA cytometric parameters of macrophages nuclei in BAL fluid have been separated. Conclusion: Investigated morphometric parameters allow correct classification of BAL fluid macrophages nuclei in the groups of acute or chronic sarcoidosis.

BAL; macrophages nuclei; morphometry

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