ISOLATED PULMONARY MICROANGIITIS MIMICKING PNEUMONIA IN A PATIENT INFECTED WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

We describe the first case, to our knowledge, of apparently isolated p ulmonary vasculitis mimicking bacterial pneumonia in a patient infecte d with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Patients presenting with fe ver, cough, and pulmonary infiltrates present a diagnostic challenge. As a result of severe T cell mediated immunosuppression and humoral dy sregulation, the differential diagnosis is diverse. One must consider both noninfectious and infectious etiologies. Noninfectious etiologies such as pulmonary lymphoma, endobronchial Kaposi's sarcoma, and adver se drug reactions are common. Recent recognition of the paradoxical as sociation between HIV and systemic vasculitis requires additional ackn owledgment of this problem in diagnosis.