CD4 COUNTS AS PREDICTORS OF PNEUMONIA AFTER RENAL-TRANSPLANTATION

During an outbreak of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), we studied the correlation between CD4 counts and PCP (group 1, n = 10) or other infectious pneumonia (group 2, n = 9) occuring after renal transplant ation in 42 patients, CD4 were counted every month post grafting and a t the time of infection. CD4 counts were < 200 cells/mm3 at the time o f PCP and during the preceding 30 days in all group 41 patients. Group 1 and group 2 patients had significantly lower counts than all other transplant patients (group 3) : 101 +/- 102/mm3 respectively vs 207 +/ - 134/mm3, p < 0.01. During the high risk period for pneumonia in our series group 1 : 80 +/- 15 days. CD4 counts can be useful for predicti ng the development of PCP after renal transplantation.