Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and Pneumocystis carinii infection in a pregnant woman.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are being seen with greater regularity by the obstetrician-gynecologist. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the extreme of the spectrum of HIV infections, is associated with Pneumocystis carinii infection in more than half of newly diagnosed cases. Four cases of AIDS and P carinii pneumonia complicating pregnancy have been reported in the literature, and all have caused maternal death. We report a case in which the mother survived. Treatment was similar to that used in the other reported cases except that steroids were added. A limited number of patients with AIDS and P carinii infection have been treated with trimethopterim-sulfamethoxazole and steroids, with good results. Steroids should be considered for cases in which other efforts are failing.