Nonspecific Interstitial Pneumonitis without Evidence of <i>Pneumocystis carinii</i> in Asymptomatic Patients Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Abstract

HIV-infected patients without pulmonary symptoms did not have detectable Pneumocystis organisms in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or transbronchial biopsy specimens; but 11 of 23 had evidence of chronic, nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis. Pneumocystis organisms in a pulmonary specimen from a symptomatic patient probably indicate the cause of the pulmonary dysfunction even if only a few are detected.