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An outbreak of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in homosexual men

S E Follansbee, D F Busch, C B Wofsy

    Annals of Internal Medicine
    |June 1, 1982
    PubMed

    Insights

    Pneumocystis pneumonia is rare in healthy adults but was observed in five homosexual men. Concurrent cytomegalovirus infections and Kaposi's sarcoma were noted, with a high mortality rate.

    Area of Science:

    • Infectious Diseases
    • Immunology
    • Epidemiology

    Background:

    • Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is uncommon in immunocompetent individuals over six months old.
    • This report details five cases of PCP in previously healthy adult homosexual men.

    Observation:

    • All five patients tested positive for cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies.
    • Four patients exhibited active concurrent CMV infections.
    • Two patients were diagnosed with Kaposi's sarcoma; one had potential central nervous system Pneumocystis infection.

    Findings:

    • Three patients experienced recurrent episodes of PCP.
    • Four out of the five patients succumbed to the illness.
    • Homosexuality and past or concurrent CMV infection were the sole shared epidemiological factors.

    Implications:

    • These findings highlight a potential link between PCP, CMV, Kaposi's sarcoma, and specific demographic groups.
    • The high mortality rate underscores the severity of these concurrent infections.
    • Further research is warranted to understand the underlying immune dysregulation and co-factors involved.

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