Frequency and severity of tracheal wash hemosiderosis and association with underlying disease in 96 cats: 2002–2003

Abstract

The results of this study confirm that hemosiderosis is a common finding in tracheal wash specimens collected from cats with diverse disease conditions, including feline asthma syndrome.

Respiratory Tract

“…A high percentage of cats with respiratory inflammatory disease such as rhinitis and asthma had mild to moderate numbers of hemosiderophages in TTW fluid (DeHeer and McManus, 2005). Hemorrhage is a common sequela to FNA of the pulmonary parenchyma.…”

Lung

“…However, it is always important to note that one limitation of radiography is that it is not always possible to correctly identify the anatomical location of disease or the primary disease focus (e.g., bronchial, interstitial, alveolar). 17 Any fluid obtained by either BAL or tracheal wash techniques should always be submitted for culture, although there may not be a correlation between culture results from BAL and lung tissue obtained by biopsy if aspiration of oral and pharyngeal bacteria into the lower airways has occurred during the sampling procedure, so every care should be taken to avoid this if possible. 2 Some abnormalities may be seen with ultrasound, such as consolidation, atelectesis, and pulmonary masses.…”

“…1 Immunohistochemistry of biopsy samples can be used to characterize the cell of origin. 17 Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial culture and fungal culture should always be performed to rule out pulmonary abscess as a differential diagnosis or to recognize concurrent infection associated with a neoplasm. 17 Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial culture and fungal culture should always be performed to rule out pulmonary abscess as a differential diagnosis or to recognize concurrent infection associated with a neoplasm.…”

“…1,24 Inflammation and hemosiderosis is common in BAL samples from cats with confirmed or suspected pulmonary neoplasia (100 and 79%, respectively). 17,46 17,46 …”

Bronchoalveolar lavage hemosiderosis in dogs and cats with respiratory disease

“…Increased stainable iron within alveolar macrophages, or pulmonary hemosiderosis, is a relatively common finding in the cytologic evaluation of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples in dogs and cats . Although hemosiderin is an iron storage complex, pulmonary hemosiderosis does not refer to a defect in iron metabolism but is rather thought to arise from previous hemorrhage or erythrocyte diapedesis secondary to vascular congestion or pulmonary hypertension .…”