title: Pulmonary manifestations of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: Between 1983 and 1985, 71 patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were evaluated. Pulmonary manifestations were present in 42 patients (59%). Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) was the most common pulmonary manifestation, present in 32 patients (45%). Other pulmonary findings were cytomegalovirus pneumonia (one patient), Candida pneumonia (one patient), cryptococcal pneumonia (one patient), bacterial pneumonia (three patients), nonspecific pneumonitis (three patients), Kaposi's sarcoma (one patient), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (one patient). The presenting features of PCP were reviewed and in seven patients the chest X-ray and blood gases were normal at the time of diagnosis of PCP. Bronchoscopy was a safe and useful technique for obtaining specimens for diagnosis promptly, and a combination of samples obtained by bronchial washings/brushings and transbronchial biopsy was found to give a higher diagnostic yield than any single sample. Drug side-effects were common during therapy, requiring change of therapy in 16 patients. At one month after diagnosis 16% of patients with PCP had died. PCP is a common pulmonary manifestation in patients with AIDS which is treatable and has an initially favourable outcome.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000150:complications; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D014295:Trimethoprim; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole