title: The use of a simple exercise test for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with AIDS.
abstract: Because Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is so common among patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), a quick, simple test to evaluate for its presence or absence would be helpful. We report our results on the role of an exercise blood gas test as a useful procedure for the detection of Pneumocystis pneumonia in patients with respiratory symptoms who have or who are at risk for developing the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Results show that a normal exercise test, as defined in the study and in our patient population, eliminated PCP from the differential diagnosis. An abnormal test was most useful in separating out a group of patients who urgently needed a diagnosis because PCP was a likely possibility. There were no significant complications associated with this test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Stover
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Greeno
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gagliardi
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen