Spontaneous improvement of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract

Until recently, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonitis was the most common cause of death in patients with leukemia in remission. Prior to the advent of effective antimicrobial agents, this disease was virtually 100% fatal in the cancer patient undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. The spontaneous improvement of P carinii pneumonitis in a child with acute lymphocytic leukemia suggests a higher incidence of P carinii pneumonitis in immunocompromised patients than is commonly realized.