TY - JOUR AU - Vogel, MN AU - Weissgerber, P AU - Goeppert, B AU - Hetzel, J AU - Vatlach, M AU - Claussen, CD AU - Horger, M PY - 2011/04/25 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Accuracy of serum LDH elevation for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia JF - Swiss Medical Weekly JA - Swiss Med Wkly VL - 141 IS - 1718 SE - Short communication DO - 10.4414/smw.2011.13184 UR - https://smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/1279 SP - w13184 AB - <p><p>In 328 immunocompromised patients, 105 with and 193 without <em>Pneumocystis jiroveci</em> pneumonia (PCP), serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was analysed retrospectively, taking into consideration the time interval from the onset of symptoms to the start of specific therapy. 97 of the 105 PCP patients were negative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Eight were positive. Of the 193 patients without PCP 134 were HIV-negative and 59 were HIV-positive. In HIV-negative patients the sensitivity of LDH elevation was 63% and specificity 43%. In HIV-positive patients sensitivity was 100% and specificity 47%. The overall accuracy of LDH for the diagnosis of PCP was 52%, 51% in HIV-negative and 58% in HIV-positive patients.</p> <p>Except for its sensitivity in HIV-positive patients, the value of LDH for the diagnosis of PCP should not be overestimated.</p></p> ER -