The American journal of medicine
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To determine if initial results obtained from diagnostic bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in immunosuppressed renal transplant patients with pulmonary infiltrates, fever, or hypoxemia can affect therapeutic decisions, morbidity, and mortality. ⋯ BAL is a useful procedure in the diagnosis of an infectious process in immunosuppressed renal transplant patients where initial results can alter therapy in more than 70% of cases.