Expected values of BAL fluid constituents in healthy former smokers

Variable	Mean ± SEM	5th percentile*	95th percentile^¶
Percent recovery of lavagate	62.3 ± 1.4	42.6	80.4
Total cells, 10⁶^Δ	20.01 ± 1.5	8.7	44.6
Total cells/mL, 10⁴^Δ	13.9 ± 1.1	5.2	31.4
Macrophages, percent^Δ	86.5 ± 1.4	66.6	97
Macrophages/mL, 10⁴^Δ	11.9 ± 0.9	4	29
Lymphocytes, percent^Δ	11.5 ± 1.2	2	29.3
Lymphocytes/mL, 10⁴^Δ	1.69 ± 0.31	0.1	5.6
Neutrophils, percent^Δ	2.1 ± 0.5	0	8.4
Neutrophils/mL, 10⁴^Δ	0.27 ± 0.049	0	1
Eosinophils, percent^Δ	0.2 ± 0.06	0	3.7
Eosinophils/mL, 10⁴^Δ	0.08 ± 0.035	0	0.05
T cells, percent^◊	74.23 ± 4.31	15.8	96.7
T-helper cells, percent^◊	46.88 ± 3.69	11.2	77.7
T-suppressor cells, percent^◊	20.65 ± 2.14	5.7	44.7
Helper/suppressor ratio^◊	2.78 ± 0.32	0.7	6
B cells, percent^◊	3.46 ± 1	0	17.5
IgG, mcg/mL^§	9.14 ± 0.82	2.1	17.7
IgA, mcg/mL^§	7.63 ± 0.8	2.6	22.5
IgM, mcg/mL^§	0.33 ± 0.06	0.05	1.4
Albumin, mcg/mL^§	46.39 ± 3.82	13.6	84.2
Total protein, mcg/mL^§	97.69 ± 5.78	43.4	171.1

BAL: bronchoalveolar lavage.
* 5th percentile of the study population.
¶ 95th percentile of the study population.
Δ n = 50.
◊ n = 26.
§ = 46.

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

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