PNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII PNEUMONIA IN PATIENTS WITHOUT PREDISPOSING ILLNESSES - ACUTE EPISODE AND FOLLOW-UP OF 5 CASES

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is described almost exclusively i n immunocompromised hosts. This report describes our experience with a cute episodes and the follow-up of five patients with PCP who had no k nown predisposing conditions. The average follow-up period was 3.6 yea rs (range, 2.6 to 4 years). Lymphocyte subpopulations (CD4, CDS, and C D4:CDS), serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, and IgA), and serologic stud ies for human immunodeficiency virus were carried out on all patients at least twice, both at the beginning and the end of the follow-up. No ne of the patients presented compatible data with AIDS or any other id entifiable risk factors. We conclude that PCP can occur in patients wh o apparently do not have immunosuppression.