The patient s current symptoms are useful in establishing the relative risk. In the transplant and lymphoma population, the symptoms are more abrupt. In the transplant and lymphoma patients, acute symptoms leading to the diagnosis of P. carinii pneumonia are often encountered after reducing the dose of corticosteroids. In the appropriate clinical setting, the physical examination may provide some information.
Patients usually are tachypneic.
However, this is often not apparent in the patient with a mild infection. Laboratory tests Routine laboratory testing reveals limited information. However, serial changes in LDH may be useful in follow up of the patient. The presence of lymphopenia is an indication of immunosuppression. Hypoxemia is a characteristic feature of PcP as well as many other pneumonias.