Cytologic diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii infection by bronchoalveolar lavage in acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Twenty-six patients with pulmonary infiltrates and suspected acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) underwent 29 fiberoptic bronchoscopies, including bronchoalveolar lavage. Seventeen of the 18 patients (94.4%) shown to have Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia were diagnosed by examination of the bronchoalveolar lavage specimen. Minor complications occurred in 7 of 29 total bronchoscopies and included transient fever and hypoxemia. Bronchoalveolar lavage is a safe, easy and effective procedure for making the diagnosis of P. carinii pneumonia in patients at high risk for AIDS and should be included routinely when performing fiberoptic bronchoscopy.
Orenstein
M
M
Webber
C A
CA
Heurich
A E
AE
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D001706:Biopsy; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D006801:Humans; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology; D013194:Staining and Labeling