The CCL8 concentrations in BAL fluid was significantly higher in 86 patients with IPF than those in 41 controls, and other interstitial lung diseases including non-specific interstitial pneumonia (n = 22), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (n = 20) and sarcoidosis (n = 19) (p < 0.005, respectively).
We suggest that the use of capillary PCR for BAL fluid and sputum samples is very useful for diagnosing CMV pneumonia in patients with interstitial pneumonia in whom CMV pneumonia is suspected.