CYTOLOGIC MANIFESTATIONS OF RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS PNEUMONIA IN BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE FLUID - A CASE-REPORT

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia in immunocompr omised patients, especially bone marrow transplant recipients, is asso ciated with high mortality. Early diagnosis in these cases is importan t because antiviral therapy with ribavirin is effective in reducing mo rtality. CASE: A 45-year-old male with multiple myeloma who underwent autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation subsequently developed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. A bronchoalveolar lavage specimen de monstrated the cytologic changes associated with RSV pneumonia, Infect ion with RSV was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence, enzyme immu noassay and, later, on histology and electron microscopy at autopsy. C ONCLUSION: Recognition of the cytologic changes associated with RSV pn eumonia in immunodeficient patients can be life saving since this woul d initiate confirmatory immunologic studies and therapy.