Discontinuing Prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 344; no. 21; pp. 1639 - 1641
• Main Authors: Bender, M A, Sax, P E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Massachusetts Medical Society 24-05-2001
• Subjects: Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - drug therapy; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - prevention & control; Anti-Infective Agents - therapeutic use; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - immunology; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - complications; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - immunology; Male; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis - drug therapy; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis - prevention & control; Risk Factors; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM200105243442113

To the Editor:
In his editorial (Jan. 18 issue)
1
accompanying two studies
2
,
3
demonstrating the safety of discontinuing prophylaxis against
Pneumocystis carinii
pneumonia after an antiretroviral therapy–induced rise in the CD4 cell count, Girard writes that other independent risk factors for
P. carinii
pneumonia should be taken into account when one is making this decision. We present a case report that underscores the importance of this recommendation.
A 42-year-old man who was seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was admitted to the hospital with shortness of breath, fever, and cough. Four years earlier, he had been treated successfully for . . .