title: [Prognostic value of interleukin-8 in AIDS-related Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia].
abstract: We evaluated the significance of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and serum was prospectively collected in 76 consecutive HIV-infected patients with a primary episode of PCP, as well as in ten healthy control subjects. Patients were found to have elevated levels of IL-8 in BAL fluid compared to control subjects (p < 0.01). Nine patients died during the course of PCP. Non-survivors had significantly higher IL-8 levels in BAL fluid than survivors (p < 0.05). Furthermore patients with levels of IL-8 in BAL greater then 90 pg/ml (i.e. greater than control subjects) had significantly worse vital prognosis (log rank test, p < 0.05). Thirteen patients required mechanical ventilation (MV), and these patients had significantly elevated levels of IL-8 compared with patients not requiring MV (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  i) IL-8 in BAL fluid correlates to the clinical severity of the pneumonia, and ii) is a predictor of mortality and severe respiratory compromise.
authors.affiliation: Infektionsmedicinsk afdeling, Hvidovre Hospital.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Benfield
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vestbo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Junge
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lundgren
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8
vernacular_title: Prognostisk vaerdi af interleukin-8 ved AIDS-relateret Pneumocystis carinii-pneumoni.