[Clinical management by the respiratory physician of patients with HIV infections]

Abstract

The lung is directly affected by HIV virus early in the disease and is the site of a specific lymphocytic alveolitis. Neoplastic pulmonary disease linked to the virus occurs (Kaposi sarcoma, lymphoma and epidermoid tumour) but it is principally following opportunistic infections that patients with AIDS come under the care of a respiratory physician. Certain of the responsible infectious agents causing opportunistic pneumonia are probably present in a latent fashion before the disease presents and are reactivated by the immuno-depression. They may occur successively such as tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis (in this case pulmonary), infection to CMV and pneumocystis. Other infectious agents are transported by the environment and lead to recurrent bacterial infections, mycotic infections or infections with atypical mycobacteria. The clinical management of these different diseases has advanced greatly from a diagnostic therapeutic prophylactic and curative viewpoint.