Subacute hypersensitivity pneumonitis in an HIV infected patient receiving antiretroviral therapy
- aDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, California 94110, USA, bDepartment of Pathology
- Dr A M Morris, 995 Potrero Avenue, Building 80, Ward 84, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA email:amorris{at}sfaids.ucsf.edu
- Received 2 August 1999
- Revision requested 15 September 1999
- Revised 27 October 1999
- Accepted 25 November 1999
Abstract
Abnormal pulmonary immune response to various antigens can lead to hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This disease has not previously been reported in HIV infected patients. This case report describes an HIV infected woman who developed subacute hypersensitivity pneumonitis in response to bird exposure. The disease manifested itself only after the patient experienced an improvement in her CD4 positive T lymphocyte count secondary to antiretroviral therapy. This case emphasises the need to consider non-HIV associated diseases in patients with HIV and suggests that diseases in which host immune response plays an essential role in pathogenesis may become more prevalent in HIV infected patients receiving effective antiretroviral therapy.
