Early Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality for Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome-Reply

In Reply.  —We have read with interest Dr Charney's letter concerning our article published in the August 1987 issue of the Archives.¹In paragraph 2, Dr Charney states that we failed to indicate the drugs used to treat the patients, and this is correct. To quote from the article "The purpose of this study was to try to identify historical, clinical, and laboratory parameters which may predict in-hospital mortality early in patients' clinical course." Hence, we did not include the drugs used in treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), as we were looking for early parameters of in-patient mortality.In paragraph 3, Dr Charney states that "indications for changing therapy are not described." Once again, we were not writing concerning drug treatment of PCP, and stated our purpose clearly, as quoted above.In paragraph 4, Dr Charney asks if empiric treatment was withheld until definitive diagnosis. Once again we