Five Cases of Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia Diagnosed by Bronchofiberscopy

The Usefulness of the Bronchoalveolar Lavage for Diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia

Abstract

We performed bronchofiberscopy in five immunosuppressed patients (1 case of lung cancer, 3 cases of hematologic malignancy, 1 case of sarcoidosis treated with corticoid) on supplemental oxygen. In all patients, hypoxemia and diffuse pulmonary infiltrates were present, and Pneumocystis carinii was found by bronchoalveolar lavage. Two were diagnosed by both bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial lung biopsy. The lavage procedure was completed within five minutes in all patients. Two patients had a transient increase in temperature after the lavage, but no serious complications were seen. Bronchoalveolar lavage is an easy, safe, and valuable procedure for diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. In addition, we believe that bronchoalveolar lavage is useful for evaluation of pulmonary complications in immunosuppressed patients, especially those with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates.