Bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) may be followed by a systemic inflammatory response. Previous reports have suggested pneumonia as a predisposing condition and systemic cytokines as possible mediators.To test this hypothesis, systemic levels of interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) were studied before and at 12 h and 24 h after bronchoscopically guided BAL in 30 mechanically ventilated patients (median age 67 (range 54 -76) yrs, simplified acute physiology score II (SAPS II) 33 (12 -56)), 20 of whom had pneumonia and 10 of whom were control patients without pneumonia. Arterial oxygen partial pressure to inspired oxygen fraction ratio (Pa,O 2 /FI,O 2 ), body temperature, mean arterial pressure, and cardiac frequency were recorded. The majority of patients (28/30, 93%) received antibiotic treatment prior to the procedure.