Generalized immune response to Pneumocystis carinii infection in the lung.
We studied inflammatory cells retrieved by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from immunocompromised patients with or without Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). Twenty-four patients with PCP, and 20 patients without PCP underwent lavages of both an uninvolved lobe and the lobe involved in pulmonary infection. Patients without P. carinii, had a significant increase (p less than 0.02) in the percentages of neutrophils (22 +/- 7.1%, mean +/- SEM) and lymphocytes (16 +/- 3.8%) in the involved lobe compared to those in the uninvolved area (neutrophils: 9 +/- 4.8%; lymphocytes: 10 +/- 2.4%). Patients with PCP, had no differences between the % neutrophils or % lymphocytes in the involved vs. uninvolved lobes. Patients with PCP had more (p less than 0.01) P. carinii in the upper lobe (23 +/- 4.6 P. carinii clusters/500 cells) than the middle lobe (11 +/- 3.6). In PCP, despite regional infections, there was a diffuse inflammatory response.
Baughman
R P
RP
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, OH 45267-0564.
Dohn
M N
MN
Frame
P T
PT
D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*