Granulomatous Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in Wegener's granulomatosis

Eur Respir J. 2000 Jan;15(1):213-6.

Abstract

This study reports on a first case of granulomatous Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in a human immunodeficiency virus-negative patient with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive Wegener's granulomatosis whilst receiving immunosuppressive treatment. The patient presented with diffuse alveolar haemorrhage, pauci-immune rapid progressive glomerulonephritis and leukocytoclastic vasculitis of the skin. Granulomatous Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia developed under immunosuppressive treatment with cyclophosphamide and prednisone. At the time Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia developed, there was a marked lymphopenia with a very low CD8+ cell count in the blood. Grocott staining in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed no Pneumocystis carinii. The diagnosis was made via a video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy which showed granulomas containing high numbers of Pneumocystis carinii cysts.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Cyclophosphamide / adverse effects
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / diagnosis*
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / drug therapy
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Lung / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / chemically induced
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / pathology
  • Prednisone / administration & dosage
  • Prednisone / adverse effects

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Prednisone