[Usefulness of bronchoalveolar gavage in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

51 BALFs from HIV positive patients were analysed. In 16 of them Pneumocystis carinii organisms were found. Two methods detecting Pneumocystis carinii were used: Grocott-Gomori, fluorescence Papanicolaou stain. The best staining method turned out to be Grocott-Gomori. The differential count was carried out in 40 BALFs. In patients with Pneumocystis carinii detected by BAL neutrophilia was always present. In some of these patients lymphocytosis was also present. In 4 patients with high lymphocytosis immunocytochemical examinations with monoclonal antibodies against CD4, CD8 T cells showed a marked decrease of the CD4/CD8 ratio.