Pleural and peritoneal leishmaniasis in an AIDS patient

The case of an AIDS patient who developed pleuritis and peritonitis in the course of relapsing visceral leishmaniasis is reported. Visceral leishmaniasis, considered an opportunistic infection in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who live in endemic areas, has a chronic relapsing course. Typical manifestations such as fever, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, weight loss, or pancytopenia are not specific in advanced HIV infection. Atypical clinical presentations are becoming more frequent. This is believed to be the first report of peritoneal involvement by Leishmania in an AIDS patient.