[A clinical study of six cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia].
OBJECTIVE
To heighten the awareness of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.


METHODS
Six cases of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia were retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
The underlying diseases were leukemia, lymphoma, renal transplantation and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. The clinical features were dyspnea, cough and fever. X rays typically showed a bilateral diffuse or patchy interstitial infiltrate. Three cases complicated with acute respiratory failure showed hypoxemia, intrapulmonary shunt and reduced compliance resembling ARDS. CPAP/PEEP was required. High-level PEEP (> 1.47 kPa) can be applied to the refractory hypoxemia. SMZco and dapsone were the initial choice of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The prognosis of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia with acute respiratory failure was poor. Aggressive early diagnosis and treatment were critical to improve survival.
Wu
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325000.
Lin
X
X
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000382:microbiology; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003622:Dapsone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000382:microbiology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D003622:Dapsone; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole