[Pneumocystis jiroveci and cytomegalovirus pneumonia in patients with alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis]. / Polmonite da Pneumocystis jiroveci e Cytomegalovirus in pazienti con cirrosi epatica alcolica.

We have described a fatal case of interstitial pneumonia with pleuritis in woman, 54 years old, suffered from end stage liver disease caused by ethanolic hepatic cirrhosis. Broncholavage microbiological culture was negative but biomolecular assays with polymerase chain reaction demonstred Pneumocystis jiroveci and Cytomegalovirus. She died despite aetiological therapy with cotrimoxazole and gancyclovir. Immunodeficiency of the delayed immune response, related to the severe liver disease and ethanol use, explains the occurrence of these opportunistic infections in ethanolic cirrhotic patients too.