Expected values of BAL fluid constituents in healthy never smokers

Variable	Mean ± SEM	5th percentile*	95th percentile^¶
Percent recovery of lavagate	63.4 ± 1.1	40.8	80.3
Total cells, 10⁶^Δ	18.1 ± 1.9	5.2	33.1
Total cells/mL, 10⁴^Δ	12.9 ± 2	3.1	35.1
Macrophages, percent^Δ	85.2 ± 1.6	54.6	97.1
Macrophages/mL, 10⁴^Δ	9.9 ± 0.8	2.7	27.5
Lymphocytes, percent^Δ	11.81 ± 1.1	1.9	34.3
Lymphocytes/mL, 10⁴^Δ	1.49 ± 0.25	0.2	4.9
Neutrophils, percent^Δ	1.6 ± 0.7	0	3.1
Neutrophils/mL, 10⁴^Δ	1.2 ± 1.1	0	0.4
Eosinophils, percent^Δ	0.19 ± 0.06	0	1.1
Eosinophils/mL, 10⁴^Δ	0.02 ± 0.007	0	0.2
T cells, percent^◊	70.27 ± 3.56	25.6	94.9
T-helper cells, percent^◊	44.4 ± 3.71	7.6	83.5
T-suppressor cells, percent^◊	20.73 ± 2.17	6.6	49.4
Helper/suppressor ratio^◊	2.61 ± 0.29	0.5	6.4
B cells, percent^◊	3.23 ± 0.85	0	17.1
IgG, mcg/mL^§	5.92 ± 0.48	1.6	14.5
IgA, mcg/mL^§	6.22 ± 0.6	1.1	15.3
IgM, mcg/mL^§	0.2 ± 0.019	0.03	0.6
Albumin, mcg/mL^§	34.23 ± 1.67	15.7	59.3
Total protein, mcg/mL^§	78.24 ± 4.04	39.5	140.7

BAL: bronchoalveolar lavage.
* 5th percentile of the study population.
¶ 95th percentile of the study population.
Δ n = 77.
◊ n = 30.
§ n = 76.

Data from: BAL Cooperative Group. Am Rev Respir Dis 1990; 141:S169 (BAL Cooperative Group, 1990 #261).

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