Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

Pneumocystis carinii (PCP) pneumonia is the most common pulmonary infection associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Patients at risk for PCP have defects in T lymphocyte function and include cancer and transplant patients who are on immune suppressing agents and corticosteroids. In West Virginia, PCP accounted for 53 percent of pulmonary infections in 144 cases of AIDS from 1984 to May 1990. Nationally, at least 100,000 cases of PCP are projected for the early part of this decade. Patients with PCP may present with non-specific symptoms. The chest X-ray frequently shows diffuse bilateral infiltrates but may have atypical features. Definitive diagnosis should be established using sputum staining and various bronchoscopic techniques. Trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole and IV pentamidine are the most efficacious agents for treatment, and monthly aerosolized pentamidine is recommended for prophylaxis. Further basic science and clinical research on the biology of the P. carinii and its response to treatment strategies in HIV and non-HIV related infections is urgently needed.     

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

Irish Journal of Medical Science (1926-1967) -     

Clinical and laboratory correlates of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in children infected with HIV.

The case histories of 27 children with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) who were followed up in the AIDS Program at the Children's Hospital of New Jersey, Newark, are reviewed. The mean and median age at PCP diagnosis were 10.8 and 7.7 months, respectively. All of the children had other clinical evidence of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus that was documented prior to the diagnosis of PCP or found at the time of PCP diagnosis. Most patients who presented to the hospital were acutely ill, and complications of treatment occurred in 70%. Overall, 89% of the patients died and 70% survived for less than 6 months after diagnosis of PCP. Median survival after the diagnosis of PCP was only 2.0 months and the median life span of children with PCP was only 14.4 months. Only 40% of children with PCP had CD4 lymphocyte counts at or below the threshold for institution of PCP prophylaxis in adults of 200 x 10(6) cells/L (200 cells/mm3).     

HIV／AIDS合并卡氏肺孢子虫肺炎的临床特点与转归

目的了解HIV／AIDS合并卡氏肺孢子虫肺炎（PCP）的发生率、临床特点与治疗。方法分析上海市传染病医院1992至2004年住院病人中HIV／AIDS合并PCP的病例，根据临床症状、体征、胸部X线片及高渗盐水超声雾化吸取痰液，采用吉姆萨染色及PCR检测卡氏肺孢子虫。结果146例HIV感染者中合并PCP33例，CD4^＋平均计数37个／mm^3，病死率36．4％。结论PCP在HIV／AIDS病人中发病率较高，病死率也高。     

卡氏肺孢子虫肺炎研究若干进展

卡氏肺孢子虫肺炎(pneumocystis carinii pneumonia,PCP),又称间质性浆细胞肺炎(interstitial plasmacell pneumonia),是一种人兽共患病,主要发生于免疫力低下的儿童。1951年Vanek首次报告,在早产婴儿间质性浆细胞肺炎病例中查见此种卡氏肺孢子虫。由于最近数十年来广泛应用免疫抑制剂以及对恶性肿瘤病人进行化疗,本病较过去为多见,已成为艾滋病患者和其他免疫缺陷者最常见的、严重的呼吸系统机会性感染疾病。近10年来,PCP更受到广泛关注。     

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) who have not been treated with fludarabin are rare, although clinically relevant CD4 T-cell depletion can occur in longstanding CLL without prior treatment with purine analogues. A 52 year old woman is reported who was on long term treatment with chlorambucil and taking a short course of prednisone for familial CLL before she developed progressive dyspnoea, and P carinii pneumonia was diagnosed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Despite treatment with high dose co-trimoxazole the patient died.     

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: diagnosis and management

As management of HIV infection becomes more proactive, early identification of persons at risk for PCP and initiation of preventive therapy will become more routine, and the clinical impact of P. carinii may be ameliorated.