Prognostic implication of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis in patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia without human immunodeficiency virus infection

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid analysis in non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) has not been well elucidated. We aimed to investigate the prognostic implication of BAL fluid analysis in non-HIV patients with PJP. METHODS: The data of 178 non-HIV patients diagnosed with PJP based on the results of the polymerase chain reaction assay of BAL fluid specimens between April 2018 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and BAL fluid analysis results of patients who died within 90 days after hospital admission were compared. RESULTS: Twenty patients (11.2%) died within 90 days from admission. The neutrophil count in BAL fluid was significantly higher (median 22.0%, interquartile range [IQR] 2.0–46.0% vs. median 6.0%, IQR 2.0–18.0%, P = 0.044), while the lymphocyte count was significantly lower (median 24.0%, IQR 7.0–37.0% vs. median 41.0%, IQR 22.5–60.5%, P = 0.001) in the non-survivor group compared with that in the survivor group. In the multivariate analysis, the C-reactive protein level (odds ratio [OR] 1.093, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.020–1.170, P = 0.011) and a BAL fluid lymphocyte count of ≤ 30% (OR 3.353, 95% CI 1.101–10.216, P = 0.033) were independently associated with mortality after adjusting for albumin and lactate dehydrogenase levels. CONCLUSION: A low lymphocyte count in BAL fluid may be a predictor of mortality in non-HIV patients with PJP. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-022-02041-8.