[Study of 6 cases of AIDS with pulmonary complication]

Abstract

Objective: To improve and to increase the awareness of pulmonary complications of AIDS.

Methods: Six cases of confirmed AIDS from may 1992 to August 1997 were analyzed.

Results: Of the six cases, there were five complicated with pneumocysitis carinii pneumonia (PCP) (in which one had PCP as the first occurred manifestation). The clinical presentations of PCP were fever(5/5), dyspnea on exertion or at rest(4/5), and hypoxemi with mean PaO2 of 58.1 mm Hg. Chest X-ray showed bilateral diffuse interstitial or alveolar infiltrates. Pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculous lymphadenities (fast-acid staining positive but PPD negative) and bronchial fungal infection were found in three cases.

Conclusions: AIDS patients are at high risk of suffering from pulmonary complications, of which PCP is more common. If young pateints who were healthy in the past suddenly suffered from pneumonia and respiratory failure, PCP should be considered. When opportunistic pulmonary infections are diagnosed under special circumstances, one should be alert to the possibility of AIDS. In these cases serum HIV antibodies should be checked immediately.