[Bronchoscopic examination in immuno-compromised host with hypoxemia due to Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia--case report].

The differential diagnosis of newly developed pulmonary infiltrate in CXR film of immunocompromised host including infection, neoplasm, pulmonary edema, pulmonary hemorrhage, cytotoxic drug induced pneumonitis, radiation pneumonitis and transfusion induced pneumonitis. If clinical course changed rapidly and the patient had fever, cough and dyspnea, then, opportunistic infection should be considered at first. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), brushing and trans- bronchial biopsy (TBLB) will give most of informations. If the patient had hypoxemia, high, flow O 2 (even pure O 2) should be given to the patient and pulse oximeter used to monitor his state of oxygenation continuously. BAL should be done at first for its high yield in infectious cases. If the condition allowed us to perform more procedures, brushing and TBLB should also be considered. We present one case of polyarteritis nodosa with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia after longterm endoxan and corticosteroid treatment. This patient had typical history and diagnostic procedures.