A Case of Pneumocystis Jirovecii Pneumonia in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
10.4078/jrd.2012.19.6.359
- Author:
Eun Young CHOI
1
;
Jin Ok KIM
;
Young Sam KIM
;
Ho Joo YOON
;
Jae Bum JUN
;
Yoon Kyoung SUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. sungyk@hanyang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Pneumocystis jirovecii;
Rheumatoid arthritis;
Immunosuppressant
- MeSH:
Arthritis, Rheumatoid;
Cough;
Dyspnea;
Early Diagnosis;
Female;
Fever;
Humans;
Isoxazoles;
Methotrexate;
Pneumocystis;
Pneumocystis jirovecii;
Pneumonia;
Sputum;
Thorax;
Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
- From:Journal of Rheumatic Diseases
2012;19(6):359-363
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
We report a 67-year-old woman who developed Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) as a complication of treatment with immunosuppressant, such as methotrexate and leflunomide, for rheumatoid arthritis. She had mild fever and non-productive cough, but there was neither symptoms of dyspnea nor typical X-ray findings at initial presentation. However, rapid progression on a chest X-ray, respiratory symptoms and findings of high-resolution chest computed tomography in a few days suggested a possibility of PJP infection. A polymerase chain reaction-based detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii in induced sputum allowed us an early diagnosis of PJP. Through a preemptive treatment with Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, she fully recovered from PJP.