[Clinical characteristics and diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical characteristics and the diagnostic methods for PCP in patients with AIDS.

METHODS

Twelve cases of AIDS associated PCP confirmed by sputum polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Tuberculosis was found in 4 cases and pneumonia in 1 case of PCP. Sputum PCR was positive in all the 12 cases, of them blood PCR was positive in 9, Gomori methenamine silver stain (GMS) positive in 5 and Giemsa stain positive in 6 cases. The CD(4)(+) lymphocyte count was (5 approximately 155) x 10(6)/L, with a mean of (51 +/- 48) x 10(6)/L; the number of CD(4)(+) cells less than 100 x 10(6)/L in 10 cases (83%) with 9 cases (75%) less than 50 x 10(6)/L. The CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+) ratio was 0.01 approximately 0.29.

CONCLUSIONS

PCP was common in patients with advanced AIDS and often co-infected with other opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis. A diagnosis of PCP should be considered if sputum PCR is positive and typical clinical manifestations are present in patients with AIDS.