FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF PNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII PNEUMONIA IN 5,025 EUROPEAN PATIENTS WITH AIDS

This study examined the factors associated with the development of a f irst episode of Pneumacystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in 5,025 patients with AIDS, including 1,976 patients with primary PCP at the time of A IDS diagnosis and 635 with primary PCP occurring subsequently. Compare d with untreated patients, patients treated with zidovudine were at si milar risk of developing PCP during the first year of therapy but were at greater risk after longer intervals of treatment. The following fa ctors were associated with an increased risk of PCP (either at the tim e of AIDS diagnosis or thereafter): lack of primary PCP prophylaxis, m ale homosexuality/bisexuality, diagnosis of AIDS in northern Europe, a nd CD4 cell count below 200 x 10(6)/L at the time of AIDS diagnosis. P atients with severe weight loss had a 60% higher risk of developing PC P during follow-up than those without such weight loss. Thus, the occu rrence of PCP depended on geographic location, mode of acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus and AIDS, degree of immunodeficiency, and use of various treatment regimens.