Pulmonary cryptosporidium developing in a patient with AIDS.

Compared to digestive disorders, respiratory disease linked to cryptosporidium has not been very well documented in AIDS. We report a case of a patient suffering from AIDS who presented with chronic bronchial symptoms which became more and more incapacitating. Different respiratory specimens (broncho-alveolar lavage, expectoration and bronchial biopsy) revealed the presence of cryptosporidium species. The patient died in a few weeks from respiratory insufficiency without the parasite being eradicated from the bronchi. Although the autopsy confirmed the presence of cryptosporidium species, it was difficult to confirm its responsibility due to the fact that other pathogens were present in the bronchial tree.