Two Cases of Pneumocystis Pneumonia after Liver Transplantation Presenting with Different Clinical Manifestations.
10.4285/jkstn.2010.24.2.114
- Author:
Youn Jeong KIM
1
;
Sang Il KIM
;
Kyung Wook HONG
;
Mine Ok CHANG
;
Ji Il KIM
;
Yung Kyung YOO
;
In Sung MOON
;
Dong Goo KIM
;
Myung Duk LEE
;
Moon Won KANG
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. drksi@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Pneumonia;
Pneumocystis;
Pneumocystis jirovecii;
Liver transplantation
- MeSH:
Bacterial Infections;
Humans;
Immunocompromised Host;
Liver;
Liver Transplantation;
Pneumocystis;
Pneumocystis jirovecii;
Pneumonia;
Pneumonia, Pneumocystis;
Respiration, Artificial;
Respiratory Insufficiency
- From:The Journal of the Korean Society for Transplantation
2010;24(2):114-117
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), now known as Pneumocystis jirovecii, is a fungal pathogen that causes opportunistic disease, especially pneumonia, in immunocompromised patients. The patients can have a spectrum of illnesses ranging from asymptomatic to fulminant respiratory failure. Here we report two cases with pneumocystis pneumonia after liver transplantation who presented with different clinical features. One patient developed acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and expired due to PCP and a superimposed bacterial infection. The other patient was asymptomatic and discovered by regular X-ray check-up. He was successfully treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. As shown by our cases, PCP presents with broad clinical manifestations and leads to various clinical courses in liver transplant recipients. Thus, Pneumocystis jirovecii has to be considered a potential pathogen of pneumonia in liver transplant recipients regardless of severity, especially one who is not on prophylactic medications. We consider prophylaxis of PCP in liver transplant recipients in our center.
