The Prognostic Significance of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cellular Analysis in Evaluating Disease Burden in Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

BAL cellular analysis provides valuable information beyond routine microbiological investigations in bronchiectasis. The low-alveolar-macrophage and high-eosinophil profile was found to be significantly associated with hospitalization, and this profile has the potential to serve as a prognostic biomarker in defining the "high-risk" phenotype. These findings highlight the complexity of the local inflammatory response and reveal the potential role of BAL in developing personalized treatment strategies for patients with bronchiectasis.