ASPERGILLUS AND BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS - ASSOCIATION WITH THE OTHERS MICROORGANISMS, CORRELATION WITH CELL-POPULATION, BLOOD-LYMPHOCYTES AND CD4 CELLS COUNTS

We have studied, in restrospect, 200 bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) in patients infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Aspergillus has b een encountred in 12 BAL corresponding to 10 patients (6 % of cases): Aspergillus fumigatus (9 cases). Aspergillus niger (1 case). Aspergill us nidulans (1 case) and both A. fumigatus-Aspergillus flavus (1 case) . There are not preferential association between Aspergillus and the o ther micro-organisms such bacteria, mycobacteria, virus, Pneumocystis carinii. BAL cell examination shows that neutrophil count is the lowes t (mean 8 %) when Aspergillus is isolated. On the contrary, the alveol ar macrophage count is the highest (mean 76 %). Among the blood lympho cytes, CD4 cell counts's mean is 11 cells/mm(3). This value is the low est among the other CD4 cell counts found with the others opportunisti c organismes. A number of risk factors seems associated with Aspergill us fumigatus isolates. So, the presence of this fungus in bronchoalveo lar lavage in HIV-infected patients must be considered as potentially pathogenic.