Pathology Image of the Month:Cough and Shortness of Breath in a Noncompliant Patient with HIV/AIDS

A 37- year-old man with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) was admitted to the intensive care unit following a four month history of progressive shortness of breath, productive cough, and flu-like symptoms. His HIV/AIDS was diagnosed at the age of 19 (CD4 count =15; viral load = 294,436 copies/ mL) and was complicated by hemodialysis-dependent, HIV-associated nephropathy, prior Pneumocystis pneumonia and known noncompliance with prescribed antiretroviral therapy. Chest film at admission was interpreted as diffuse bilateral interstitial and airspace opacities with a right sided layering density representative of laminar pleural effusion. Bacterial blood cultures were subsequently negative. A bronchoalveolar lavage was performed and an image from the cytologic cell block is seen above in Figure 1. The patient's respiratory status continued to deteriorate and he was converted to comfort care. Following death, an unlimited autopsy examination was requested by the family and authorized by the coroner. At autopsy, additional gross pathologic findings included 350ml of chylous appearing pleural fluid and serous ascites (700ml). Histopathology revealed intra-alveolar acute fibrinopurulent exudate, chronic pericarditis and end-stage nephropathy. Similar cells to those shown above in Figure 1 were identified in lung epithelium and in pancreatic acinar cells. Special stain for Pneumocystis was negative.