Diagnostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage in ocular sarcoidosis

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is an investigation which has already proven its value in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. It also appears to be a valuable contribution to the diagnosis of patients presenting with ocular sarcoidosis. We evaluated the findings in BAL in 16 cases with suspected ocular sarcoidosis (14 cases of uveitis, one with eyelid-swelling and one with an inflammatory process of the lacrimal gland). BAL was positive in 11 cases e.g. showed a lymphocytosis with predominantly T4+ helper lymphocytes. There was one patient with ocular signs very suspect for sarcoidosis (a perivasculitis with candle wax infiltrates) with a normal percentage T lymphocytes (2%) in BAL. In two cases BAL was positive and showed a subclinical alveolitis, whereas no changes were seen on the chest X-ray and in Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) level.