EXTRAPULMONARY AND DISSEMINATED PNEUMOCYS TOSIS IN AIDS - A LITERATURE-REVIEW

We present a literature review about extrapulmonary and disseminated p neumocystosis in AIDS. The prevalence of such infections seems low but is probably under-estimated. Disseminated pneumocystosis occurs in pa tients with profound immunosuppression, who do not receive prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia or are treated with aerolized pentamidine. The lack of specificity of symptoms may delay the diagnos is. Most organs may be involved. Three different presentations may be individualized: disseminated pneumocystosis, intra-thoracic only disse minated pneumocystosis, in an intra-thoracic localization alone, and l ocalized extrapulmonary pneumocystosis. The mortality from disseminate d disease is high; especially in the presence of low serum albumin lev el.