A Case of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) with Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a recently described entity of increasing importance. Victims suffer from a loss of appropriate immune response, resulting in opportunistic infections. Of the reported cases 58% have developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. The case-fatality rate for AIDS has been reported as 41%. We report a previously healthy homosexual man who developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and an inverted ratio of T helper cells to T suppressor cells diagnostic of AIDS. Further pulmonary complications included pleural infections, pulmonary infections, and bilateral pneumothoraces.