[Pulmonary infectious complications in HIV disease].

The spectrum of HIV-related pulmonary infectious and noninfectious complications has enlarged considerably during the past years. Because clinical and radiological presentation is generally nonspecific the diagnostic workup should be straightforward. The diagnosis of the still most important complication, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, can often be achieved by examination of sputum. If this is not possible, the next diagnostic step is bronchoalveolar lavage. Due to rapid diagnosis and treatment as well as prophylactic measures the prognosis of these HIV-related complications has improved significantly.