The authors present a clinical observation with the objective to test which objective indicators make it possible to predict the effect of treatment in patients with cryptogenic fibrotizing alveolitis. Retrospective analysis of the documentation of a longitudinal follow up of 34 patients with this diagnosis revealed that the presence of fibroproliferative changes on the high resolution CT image predicts significantly the absence of a therapeutic effect and conversely the absence of such changes predisposes for significant improvement of pulmonary functions during treatment. They found also a significant correlation between he ratio of lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and the dynamics of the development of pulmonary functions. The age of establishment of the diagnosis correlates also significantly with indicators of the therapeutic response. Based on these results the authors conclude that a favourable therapeutic effect can be expected in patients without fibroproliferative changes, with a significant lymphopcytosis in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and a younger age at the time of manifestation. On the other hand, in patients with a marked fibroproliferation and absence of alveolitis there is no point in attempting to influence the disease by pharmacological gents.

Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid /cytology/; Female; Glucocorticoids /therapeutic use/; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pulmonary Fibrosis /drug therapy/; Respiratory Mechanics; Treatment Outcome