Respiratory complications in Brazilian patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract

Purpose: To determine how often and by what means an indentifiable pulmonary pathogen can be recognized in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients with respiratory disorders in Brazil, which are the most frequently observed microorganisms and what impact specific therapy has on these agents.

Patients and methods: Thirty-five HIV seropositive subjects with respiratory complaints were studied. All patients had a complete history, physical examination and blood counts. The pulmonary assessment included chest radiograms; sputum examination for bacterial and fungal pathogens; bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsy. Patients with treatable complications received standard antimicrobial therapy.

Results: One or more microorganisms were found in 24 subjects and another 3 individuals showed nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis. The sputum examination identified the pulmonary pathogens in 7 cases. The bronchoalveolar lavage and the histopathologic examination were diagnostic in 14% and 83%, respectively, of the 28 individuals that were submitted to bronchoscopy. The most frequently identified microorganism was P. carinii (55%), followed by M. tuberculosis (41%) and cytomegalovirus (8%). The clinical, laboratory and radiographic findings failed to distinguish the specific pulmonary pathogens. Twenty-three individuals with P. carinii pneumonitis and/or tuberculosis received specific therapy; among the evaluable patients the therapeutic response rates were 79% for PCP and 100% for TB.

Conclusions: We have determined that tuberculosis, P. carinii and cytomegalovirus pneumonitis are the most common respiratory opportunistic diseases in Brazilian patients infected with HIV. The histologic evaluation was crucial in order to identify the pulmonary pathogens. Tuberculosis in AIDS individuals displayed clinical and radiographic findings atypical for reactivation disease. However, most of the features observed in HIV infected patients had been previously described in infection of the normal host. Furthermore, the AIDS subjects showed a good therapeutic response to anti-tuberculous drugs.

PIP: The authors conducted complete histories, physical examinations, blood counts, chest radiograms, sputum examinations for bacterial and fungal pathogens, and bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsy on 35 HIV-seropositive individuals with respiratory complaints in a study to determine how often and by what means an identifiable pulmonary pathogen can be recognized in HIV-infected patients with respiratory disorders in Brazil, which are the most frequently observed microorganisms, and what impact specific therapy has on the agents. One or more microorganisms were found in 24 subjects, while another three individuals showed nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis. Tuberculosis (TB) found in 41% of cases, P. carinii in 55%, and cytomegalovirus pneumonitis in 8% were the most common respiratory opportunistic diseases among the study subjects. Histologic evaluation was essential to identify the pulmonary pathogens, with clinical, laboratory, and radiographic findings failing to distinguish the specific pathogens. 23 individuals with P. carinii pneumonitis and/or TB received specific therapy; among the patients who could be evaluated, the therapeutic response rates were 79% for PCP and 100% for TB. TB in these individuals displayed clinical and radiographic findings atypical for reactivation disease. The authors note that most of the features observed in HIV-infected patients had been previously described in infection of the normal host.