Because immunologic mechanisms are thought to have a role in chronic berylliosis, we studied the immunologic properties of peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lymphocytes in a patient with this disease. Although the percent of peripheral blood T cells was slightly reduced compared with that in controls (59% versus 70%), there was a large increase in the number and proportion (94% versus 62%) of bronchoalveolar T cells. The percent of activated bronchoalveolar T cells was nearly five times the control value (64.5% versus 14%). Both peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lymphocytes proliferated in response to BeSO₄ and BeF₂ exposure but the response of bronchoalveolar lymphocytes was greater than comparable numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes. These findings are consistent with the concept that chronic berylliosis is a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis and that bronchoalveolar lavage may be helpful in establishing the diagnosis of this disease.