INTRODUCTION: Pneumocystis jiroveci is an opportunistic infectious fungus in immunosuppressed patients, particularly in ones with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
The use of immunosuppressive drugs especially corticosteroids predisposes the transplanted patients to a variety of infectious diseases including Pneumocystis infection. In many developed countries, the incidence of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) is dwindling in transplant patients receiving appropriate prophylaxis. In this study, definitive diagnosis of Pneumocystis infection in a patient receiving kidney transplant was presented.
CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 45-year-old man with a history of kidney transplantation 24 years ago, admitted to a specialized hospital in Tehran because of fever and respiratory distress. Upon admission, the patient showed symptoms of unconsciousness and shortness of breath. Paraclinical tests and complementary examinations such as microscopic observation and molecular analysis confirmed the definitive diagnosis of Pneumocystis infection. Specific treatment with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole was carried out alongside other therapeutic measures; but unfortunately the patient did not respond to the specific treatment and died in the course of a progressive disease.
DISCUSSION: The disease progress in these patients can still be fast and deadly. Applying rapid molecular diagnostic techniques to start appropriate and timely treatment is essential. Utilization of such diagnostic methods is recommended in our country.
Written by:
Rezavand B, Hosseini MJ, Izadi M, Mahmoodzadeh Poornaki A, Sadraei J, Einollahi B, Rezaimanesh MR, Bagheri O, Abdi J. Are you the author?
Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, IR Iran; Molecular Biology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran; Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran; Department of Parasitology, Medical School, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IR Iran; Nephrology and Urology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran; Departmanet of Laboratory Sciences, Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, IR Iran; Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, IR Iran.
Reference: Nephrourol Mon. 2014 Mar 9;6(2):e13605.
doi: 10.5812/numonthly.13605
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24783169
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