ISSN:
1439-0973
Keywords:
Key Words Adenovirus
;
Pneumocystis carinii
;
HIV
;
AIDS
;
Pneumonia
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Background: Adenovirus infections are common in immunocomproised hosts. However, pulmonary adenovirus infections rarely cause significant morbidity in HIV-infected patients. Patient: Here we described a 27-year-old man with AIDS who presented with tachypnea, hypoxemia and an infiltrate in the upper left lobe on chest X-ray. Bronchoscopy was performed and Pneumocystis carinii was detected in brochoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Treatment with cotrimoxazole and prednisone intially resulted in improvement, but after 10 days the patient's clinical condition deteriorated rapidly and he died after 23 days due to respiratory failure. Results: On autopsy histopathologic examination showed abundant “smudge cells,” suggestive of adenoviral infection. Electron microscopy revealed adenovirus-like particles arrayed in a paracrystalline manner. Subsequent immunohistochemistry confirmed the extensive presence of adenovirus in addition to P. carinii. Conclusion: This case demonstrates a pathogenetic role for adenovirus coinfection i P. carinii pneumonia (PCP). Earlier diagnosis, e. g. by PCR analysis of the BAL fluid or transbronchial biopsy, might have led to the consideration of ribavirin treatment.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s150100070028
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