title: Acute respiratory failure in the HIV-seropositive patient.
abstract: Since approximately 40% to 65% of patients with AIDS will develop pulmonary disease, HIV-seropositive patients represent a large cohort of immunosuppressed individuals with the potential to progress to respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and admission to the intensive care unit. This article reviews the cause, pathophysiology, diagnostic approach, and management of acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation in HIV-seropositive patients. Prognostic factors and survival rates for episodes of respiratory failure are also discussed. In addition, an overview of acute respiratory failure in pediatric AIDS patients is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shelhamer
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010356:Patient Isolation; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate