Allergens Are Not Detected in the Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid of Patients Undergoing Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy

摘要

Allergen sources range in size from 0.28 to 0.40 mm for mites, 2 to 500 μm for molds, and 2 to 200 μm for pollens. Early studies suggested that given their large size, aeroallergenic sources were unable to reach the lower airways [1]. The nose filtering system retains particles larger than 10 μm, and only fine or ultrafine particles reach distal bronchioles (diameter 1-5 μm) [2,3]. However, it has been demonstrated that grass pollen allergens are released as breathable aerosols, the atmosphere contains allergencarrying, plant-derived, paucimicronic particles (2-5 μm) [4], and small spores and fragments of mold spores can reach the lower airways [5].