PLASMA (1-]3)-BETA-D-GLUCAN MEASUREMENT AND POLYMERASE-CHAIN-REACTIONON SPUTUM AS PRACTICAL PARAMETERS IN PNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII PNEUMONIA

We report a case of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in a patient with a cquired immunodeficiency syndrome diagnosed and monitored with polymer ase chain reaction (PCR) for Pneumocystis carinii on sputum and measur ement of plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan (G-test). Results of both studie s paralleled the clinical and radiographic improvement. However, the p lasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan level remained higher than normal when PCR for Pneumocystis carinii became negative in sputum, Both PCR for Pneu mocystis carinii on sputum and measurement of plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-gl ucan are useful for noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring of Pneumocyst is carinii, although further investigation is necessary to quantify th eir relationship.