title: Correlation between imaging features of Pneumocystis Jiroveci Pneumonitis (PCP), CD(4) (+) T lymphocyte count, and plasma HIV viral load: A study in 50 consecutive AIDS patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the imaging manifestations of Pneumocystis Jiroveci Pneumonitis (PCP) in AIDS patients, and the correlation between imaging features, CD(4) (+) lymphocyte count, and plasma HIV viral load.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of consecutive 50 AIDS patients with PCP were reviewed retrospectively. Chest CT manifestations, CD(4) (+) lymphocyte count, and plasma HIV viral load were analyzed to investigate their correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PCP chest CT manifestations included ground-glass opacities dominated in 28 cases (28/50, 56%), lung cysts dominated in 10 cases (10/50, 20%), consolidation dominated in 6 cases (6/50, 12%), interstitial lesion dominated in 3 cases (3/50, 6%), and mixed lesions in 3 cases (3/50, 6%). In these 50 patients, CD(4) (+) lymphocyte count ranged from 2 to 373 cells/µL. Plasma HIV viral load ranged from 500 to 5.28×10(7) copies/mL. CD(4) (+) lymphocyte count in ground-glass opacities dominated patients was higher than that of lung cyst dominated patients (P<0.05). Plasma virus load of lung cysts dominated PCP patients was higher than that of consolidation dominated patients (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The typical chest imaging features of PCP in AIDS patients included lung ground-glass opacities and lung cysts. The chest imaging features were correlated with CD(4) (+) T lymphocyte count and plasma HIV viral load.
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Guangdong Medical College, Shenzhen 518020, China;
authors.forename: Pu-Xuan
authors.initials: PX
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Ying-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Shui-Teng
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ying-Xia
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yi-Xiang J
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wen-Ke
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xiao-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Wei-Ye
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Bo-Ping
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Zhou