Despite the decline in HIV mortality and morbidity, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is still frequently seen, particularly in patients with a low CD4+ cell count. We present a case series where we analyzed the possible role of lung ultrasound (LUS) in the management of PJP in a real-life clinical setting. We describe the ultrasound findings from a consecutive series of six HIV patients hospitalized for PJP, all with a favorable outcome, and evaluated with LUS at admission in our ward and then repeated this once during the hospitalization. Multiple B lines indicating interstitial syndrome were detected at admission in all cases, with a bilateral asymmetric pattern mostly localized in middle and upper lobes. In the follow-up LUS, we noted a substantially improved pattern in all patients, observing a reduction of B lines which correlated with clinical amelioration. One patient at admission and three patients during the follow-up showed lung consolidations with hyperechoic spots inside, that might be typical of the disease. In conclusion, LUS could be a practical and noninvasive imaging tool for supporting diagnosis and treatment response of PJP.

Lung ultrasound in the management of pneumocystis pneumonia : a case series / S. Limonta, E. Monge, M. Montuori, M. Morosi, M. Galli, F. Franzetti. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STD & AIDS. - ISSN 0956-4624. - 30:2(2019 Feb), pp. 188-193. [10.1177/0956462418797872]

Lung ultrasound in the management of pneumocystis pneumonia : a case series

S. Limonta
;
E. Monge;M. Morosi;M. Galli;
2019

Abstract

Despite the decline in HIV mortality and morbidity, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is still frequently seen, particularly in patients with a low CD4+ cell count. We present a case series where we analyzed the possible role of lung ultrasound (LUS) in the management of PJP in a real-life clinical setting. We describe the ultrasound findings from a consecutive series of six HIV patients hospitalized for PJP, all with a favorable outcome, and evaluated with LUS at admission in our ward and then repeated this once during the hospitalization. Multiple B lines indicating interstitial syndrome were detected at admission in all cases, with a bilateral asymmetric pattern mostly localized in middle and upper lobes. In the follow-up LUS, we noted a substantially improved pattern in all patients, observing a reduction of B lines which correlated with clinical amelioration. One patient at admission and three patients during the follow-up showed lung consolidations with hyperechoic spots inside, that might be typical of the disease. In conclusion, LUS could be a practical and noninvasive imaging tool for supporting diagnosis and treatment response of PJP.
diagnostic imaging; HIV infection; lung ultrasound; Pneumocystis pneumonia; Adult; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Cough; Female; Fever; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Lung; Male; Middle Aged; Pneumocystis carinii; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Ultrasonography
Settore MED/17 - Malattie Infettive
feb-2019
20-set-2018
Article (author)
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/773918
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