title: A clinical comparative study of polymerase chain reaction assay for diagnosis of pneumocystis pneumonia in non-AIDS patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is one of the most common and fatal infections in non-AIDS immunocompromised patients, which is difficult to diagnose by traditional morphologic methods. This study evaluated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays of Pneumocystis jirovecii mitochondrial large subunits ribosomal RNA in sputum and bronchioalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for diagnosing PCP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sputum and BALF specimens from two groups were collected: one group (PCP group) included 20 patients definitely diagnosed of PCP by Gomori methenamine silver (GMS) stains of BALF; the other group (non-PCP group) included 40 patients. Each specimen was examined by GMS stains and PCR assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GMS stains of BALF in PCP group were 100% positive (20/20), GMS stains of sputum in PCP group were 35% positive (7/20); GMS stains of BALF in non-PCP group were 100% negative (40/40), GMS stains of sputum in non-PCP group were 100% negative (40/40). PCR assays of BALF in PCP group were 100% positive (20/20), PCR assays of sputum in PCP group were 100% positive (20/20); PCR assays of BALF in non-PCP group were 100% negative (40/40), PCR assays of sputum in non-PCP group were 100% negative (40/40). Sensitivity and specificity of PCR assays of sputum and BALF were both 100%; positive and negative predictive values were also both 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnostic value of PCR assays of Pneumocystis jirovecii mitochondrial large subunits ribosomal RNA on sputum and BALF for pneumocystis pneumonia are both high and equivalent.
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China. muxiangdong@medmail.com.cn
authors: Xiang-dong
authors: XD
authors: Mu
authors: Guang-fa
authors: GF
authors: Wang
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Su
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry