Frequency and potential cause of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in fetal lungs.

Ersch J, Tschernig T, Stallmach T. Frequency and potential cause of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in fetal lungs.Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2005: 16: 295–298.© 2005 Blackwell MunksgaardBronchus-associated lymphoid tissue consists of lymphoid follicles with or without a germinal center within the bronchial wall. Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue is part of the integrated mucosal immune system and present in about 50% of healthy infants. We examined a series of 141 fetal and neonatal lungs and detected bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in 100% of cases with amniotic infection while postpartum perinatal pneumonia did not elicit bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue formation. Only rarely and in low density, bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue was present in non-infected fetuses. Thein uteroformation of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue seems to be a reactive phenomenon and– as has been shown in another study– does not portend an adverse prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]