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BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is characterised by a T-lymphocytic alveolitis with a typically increased T4/T8 ratio. The diagnostic value of this ratio is under debate. AIM OF THE WORK: We prospectively evaluated the influence of BAL pre-lavage and the impact of bronchial contamination on BAL differential cell count in 108 BAL specimens obtained from patients with histologically confirmed sarcoidosis. METHODS: BAL was performed by instilling 150-300 ml normal saline either in the middle lobe or the lingula. Fifty-one patients (47%) underwent additional pre-lavage with 50 ml normal saline. Bronchial contamination was assessed by semi-quantitative analysis of mucus, ciliated and squamous cells in the untreated BAL recovery. RESULTS: Pre-lavage did neither influence the lavage cellularity nor extend of contamination of the BAL. Content of mucus and ciliated cells, indicating bronchial contamination, showed a high correlation (Kendal's tau=0.61). Presence of either mucus or ciliated cells in the BAL recovery was associated with a significant lower T4/T8 ratio (mucus: 4.9 vs. 8.0, p=0.009; ciliated cells: 4.1 vs. 7.4, p=0.001). Squamous cells in the BAL recovery representing oropharyngeal contamination did not significantly influence the T4/T8 ratio (7.7 vs. 5.6, p=0.10). CONCLUSION: Bronchial contamination of BAL as determined by the presence of mucus and ciliated cells in the recovery decreases the T4/T8 ratio of BAL in sarcoidosis.