Diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary disorders of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
It is apparent that the lung is frequently involved by a number of opportunistic pathogens and neoplasms in AIDS patients. What is even more disconcerting is the fact that often several infections or infection and neoplasm can coexist [236]. At this time, although effective therapy is at hand for most of the disorders mentioned, the patient's underlying immunodeficiency prevents any long-term survival and also usually leads to relapse when treatment is discontinued. Perhaps the use of newer antiviral compounds such as azidothymidine [237] or immunomodulating agents will help to reconstitute the waning immunocompetence and allow more durable responses in these currently fatal complications.