Abstract: 【Abstract】　Objective To evaluate the diagnostic utility of bronchoalveolar lavage（BAL）in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with Pnuemocystis carinii pneumonia(PCP) . Methods 117 bronchoscopys with BAL were performed in 114 SOT hospitalized recipients with suspected pulmonary infections in our hospital. Cytological smear and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were done to detect P carinii in lavage specimens. Results A definite P carinii etiological diagnosis by BAL was confirmed in 36 patients. P carinii infections alone accounted for 36 episodes, mixed infections by P carinii and CMV accounted for 6 episodes, mixed infections by P carinii and bacterium accounted for 4 episodes. 31 episodes were observed in period 2, 5 episodes in period 3. Conclusion BAL is an extremely useful tool for PCP diagnosis in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. The procedure is safe and the results obtained by the technique can guide specific antimicrobial therapy.

Key words: Bronchoalveolar lavage, Pneumonia, Pnuemocystis carinii, Organ transplant