Alveolar and blood T lymphocyte profiles in Pneumocystis jirovecii-positive patients: effects of HIV status.

Background: There are substantial differences in the risk evaluation, clinical presentation, and outcome of Pneumocystis pneumonia between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative immunocompromised patients. To compare the host immune defenses against Pneumocystis jirovecii, the blood and alveolar lymphocyte profile was explored in these 2 populations.

Methods: The total, CD3(+), CD4(+), and CD8(+) T-lymphocyte counts were measured in the blood and alveoli of immunocompromised patients with a P.