Value of bronchoalveolar lavage in the diagnosis of pulmonary infection in acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Seventy five patients with pulmonary disease and suspected acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) underwent fibreoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage. Of 54 cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, 53 (98%) were diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage. Complications were recorded in 12 instances and included pneumothorax in two and transient increase in fever and hypoxaemia in the remainder. Bronchoalveolar lavage is a safe, easy, and effective procedure for diagnosing pneumocystis pneumonia in patients at high risk of AIDS and should be done routinely when fibreoptic bronchoscopy is performed in such patients.