PROGNOSTIC FACTORS INFLUENCING THE OUTCOME IN PNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII PNEUMONIA IN PATIENTS WITH AIDS

Background - Studies attempting to identify the prognostic factors that influence the outcome of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in patients with AIDS using a multivariate analysis are few. In order to identify those prognostic factors amenable to medical intervention, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on 102 patients with AIDS suffering a first episode of PCP. Methods - One hundred and two consecutive patients with AIDS (51% drug abusers, 45% homosexuals, and 4% with other HIV risk factors) admitted to our institution between 1986 and 1989 whose respiratory infection was diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage were studied prospectively. Results - The overall mortality was 28%, rising to 79% in those patients who required mechanical ventilation. According to univariate analysis the following variables were related to a poor prognosis: age >35 years; risk factor for HIV infection other than drug abuse; an AIDS diagnosis confirmed before 1988; Pao(2) <8 kPa at admission; severe acute respiratory failure on admission (Pao(2)/FIo(2) <20 kPa); mechanical ventilation; antibiotic therapy for FCP other than trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole; multiple microbial pulmonary infection; serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) >22.5 mu kat/l on admission; serum albumin level <30 g/1. Multivariate analysis showed that only mechanical ventilation was independently associated with a poor outcome. Conclusions - The mortality of AIDS patients presenting with a first episode of PCP before 1990 was high (28%). The main prognostic factor associated with poor outcome was the requirement for mechanical ventilation due to severe acute respiratory failure.