PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - M Tumbarello
AU  - E Tacconelli
AU  - T Pirronti
AU  - R Cauda
AU  - L Ortona
TI  - Pneumothorax in HIV-infected patients: role of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.97.10061332
DP  - 1997 Jun 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 1332--1335
VI  - 10
IP  - 6
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/10/6/1332.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/10/6/1332.full
SO  - Eur Respir J1997 Jun 01; 10
AB  - Patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are at increased risk for pneumothorax, which usually occurs in the setting of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. The rationale of the present study was based on the hypothesis that the increased incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients could favour the development of pneumothorax in such patients. A case-control study was performed comprising 140 HIV-infected patients grouped as follows: 35 patients with pneumothorax and 105 matched controls without pneumothorax. Univariate analysis identified four risk factors for pneumothorax: 1) previous P. carinii pneumonia (p=0.01); 2) current P. carinii pneumonia (p=0.02); 3) pulmonary tuberculosis (p=0.01); and 4) cysts, pneumatoceles or bullae on chest radiographs (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that current P. carinii pneumonia (p=0.01) and pulmonary tuberculosis (p=0.04) were both independent risk factors for pneumothorax. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that, in addition to Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis enhances the risk of pneumothorax in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.