The Clinical Manifestation of Pulmonary Infection in AIDS Patients

Background: In AIDS patients, the respiratory tract is one of the most frequently involved site of by an opportunistic infection, and an even common, casual pulmonary infection manifests in a peculiar ways in AIDS patients. In Korea, because of the low prevalence of AIDS, there is insufficient data compared with other Southeast Asian counties. However, considering the sexual behavior of the younger generation, it is expected that it will not be long before AIDS becomes a major public health issue in Korea. This study examined the clinical manifestation of HIV positive people and AIDS patients. The pulmonary manifestion of HIV-positive was evaluated. This study focused on the differences in the clinical manifestation between AIDS patients with pulmonary disease and simple HIV positive people. The characteristics of common pulmonary infections in AIDS patients were also analyzed. Method: The medical records of 28 HIV positive patients who visited the hospital of ChungAng University Hospital from January, 2001 to February, 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. Result: Twenty-seven patients out of 28 HIV positive patients were male and the average age was 40.6(23-65). Patients in their thirties were most commonly affected. Elven patients had pulmonary diseases. Pulmonary tuberculosis (4 cases) and pneumocystis pneumonia (4 cases) were the most common respiratory infection. One patient showed a peculiar type of systemic cryptococcus. which was accompanied by lung and pleural dissemination. The CD4+lymphocyte count of patients with a pulmonary infection was significantly lower in patients with a pulmonary manifestation than those with only a HIV infection ($79.5/mm^3$ vs $400/mm^3$, respectively)(p<.05). Patients with pulmonary disease were in a more severe immunosuppressive state. There were 4 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 4 with pneumocystis pneumonia, 4 with secondary syphilis, 2 with primary syphilis, and 2 with HZV infection. The average CD4 lymphocyte counts was $56/mm^3$ in those with pulmonary tuberculosis, $42/mm^3$ in those with pneumocystis pneumonia, and $455/mm^3$ in those with secondary syphilis. Conclusion: This study examined the clinical manifestation of HIV positive patients, particularly AIDS patients with pulmonary disease, A more severe immunosuppressive status was observed in HIV-related pulmonary compared with those with HIV-related extrapulmonary disease, and the frequency of pulmonary tuberculosis in pulmonary disease was higher than expected. Respiratory infection in AIDS manifest in uncommon ways e.g. disseminated cryptococcosis involving the lung and pleura. Evidently, AIDS patients with a respiratory infection have a more severe form of immunosuppression than those with a simple HIV infection. As expected, patients with a pulmonary infection were in a more severe immunosuppressed state than those with a simple HIV infection. Opportunistic infections can show peculiar clinical presentations in AIDS patients.

국내 일개 대학병원에서 경험한 AIDS 환자의 폐 감염성 질환의 임상적 특성

배 경: AIDS환자에게서 기회감염은 가장 치명적인 합병증으로 대부분은 폐 감염의 형태로 발현된다. 본 연구는 타 국가에 비해 아직까지는 유병률이 낮아서 상대적으로 자료가 부족한 국내의 현황에서, HIV 감염자 및 AIDS 환자의 임상양상을 살펴보고 특히 AIDS 환자들이 주로 어떤 호흡기 질환으로 발현하며, 호흡기 질환이 발현된 AIDS 환자와 기타 폐외 질환으로 발현하거나, HIV 단순감염자와의 임상상에 어떤 차이가 있는지를 중점적으로 살펴보고자 하였다. 방 법: 2001년부터 2006년 2월까지 중앙대학교 병원에 내원한 HIV 감염자 총28명을 대상으로, 이들 환자의 의무기록을 후향적으로 조사하여 분석하였다. 결 과: 총 28명의 HIV 감염자 중 27명이 남자이었고 평균연령은 40.6세로 30대가 40%로 가장 많은 분포를 보였다. 이 중에서 폐질환을 동반한 경우가 11명이었고, 폐외질환 환자가 16명이었다. 폐질환을 동반환 환자군과 폐외질환자에서 내원시 CD4+림프구수와 HIV RNA 수는 평균 79.5/mm3, 48,903 IU/ml, $400/mm^3$, 60,256 IU/ml을 보여(P value: 0.001, 0.695) 폐감염이 동반된 경우에 더 심한 면역억제 상태가 심하였다. 폐감염의 종류로는 폐결핵, 주폐포자충 폐렴이 가장 많은 빈도를 차지하였으며, 이들의 평균 CD4+림프구 수를 보면, 폐결핵이 $56/mm^3$, 주폐포자충폐렴이 $42/mm^3$이었다. 결 론: HIV에 관련된 폐질환이 동반된 경우 그렇지 않은 경우에 비해 월등히 면역억제가 심하였다. 이 중에서 폐결핵과 주폐포포자충 폐렴이 가장 흔한 형태의 폐감염이었다. 본 연구는 일개 대학병원에서 경험한 HIV 감염자와 특히 폐질환이 발현된 AIDS 환자의 임상상의 특징을 확인할 수 있었고 빠른 조기진단과 치료의 필요성을 다시 한번 확인하였다.