Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics and the diagnostic methods for PCP in patients with AIDS.
Methods: Twelve cases of AIDS associated PCP confirmed by sputum polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were analyzed.
Results: Tuberculosis was found in 4 cases and pneumonia in 1 case of PCP. Sputum PCR was positive in all the 12 cases, of them blood PCR was positive in 9, Gomori methenamine silver stain (GMS) positive in 5 and Giemsa stain positive in 6 cases. The CD(4)(+) lymphocyte count was (5 approximately 155) x 10(6)/L, with a mean of (51 +/- 48) x 10(6)/L; the number of CD(4)(+) cells less than 100 x 10(6)/L in 10 cases (83%) with 9 cases (75%) less than 50 x 10(6)/L. The CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+) ratio was 0.01 approximately 0.29.
Conclusions: PCP was common in patients with advanced AIDS and often co-infected with other opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis. A diagnosis of PCP should be considered if sputum PCR is positive and typical clinical manifestations are present in patients with AIDS.