Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia in a Liver Transplant Recipient With an Adverse Reaction to Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole Treated With a Sulfonamide Desensitization Protocol: Case Report.


Journal

Transplantation proceedings
ISSN: 1873-2623
Titre abrégé: Transplant Proc
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0243532

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
16 May 2024
Historique:
received: 31 12 2023
accepted: 29 03 2024
medline: 18 5 2024
pubmed: 18 5 2024
entrez: 17 5 2024
Statut: aheadofprint

Résumé

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is an opportunistic fungal infection that, in immunocompromised patients, can progress to respiratory failure and death. Since trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) chemoprophylaxis has become a standard management, the prognosis has improved. However, there are patients with a history of TMP/SMX intolerance who cannot receive chemoprophylaxis. We report on a 53-year-old male liver recipient treated with a standard triple immunosuppressive regimen in whom TMP/SMX was waived because of a history of allergy manifested as a generalized rash with edema more than 30 years ago. At transplantation, the immunologic risk was assessed as low, and liver graft function was normal. In the third month after engraftment, he developed dyspnea at rest required constant passive oxygen therapy. Ceftriaxone, azithromycin, and clindamycin were implemented. Mycophenolate acid was stopped, and tacrolimus was reduced. High-resolution computed tomography revealed interstitial pneumonia. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumoniae was diagnosed from bronchoalveolar lavage. Instead of TMP/SMX, pentamidine and caspofungin were also used for PJP, with no improvement. After 3 weeks, the patient deteriorated. Because of his life-threatening condition, TMP/SMX was introduced in the sulfonamide desensitization protocol, including hydrocortisone and clemastinum. Within 4 days, the patient stabilized with no signs of TMP/SMX intolerance. Pneumonia subsided within a month, and TMP/SMX was prescribed lifelong. Prophylaxis for PJP with TMP/SMX still remains an important issue in transplant recipients. Adverse reaction to TMP/SMX in the past is not always a contraindication to reintroducing prophylaxis. The decision of prophylaxis avoidance should be analyzed carefully; in uncertain cases, a sulfonamide desensitization protocol should be considered.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is an opportunistic fungal infection that, in immunocompromised patients, can progress to respiratory failure and death. Since trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) chemoprophylaxis has become a standard management, the prognosis has improved. However, there are patients with a history of TMP/SMX intolerance who cannot receive chemoprophylaxis.
BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
We report on a 53-year-old male liver recipient treated with a standard triple immunosuppressive regimen in whom TMP/SMX was waived because of a history of allergy manifested as a generalized rash with edema more than 30 years ago. At transplantation, the immunologic risk was assessed as low, and liver graft function was normal. In the third month after engraftment, he developed dyspnea at rest required constant passive oxygen therapy. Ceftriaxone, azithromycin, and clindamycin were implemented. Mycophenolate acid was stopped, and tacrolimus was reduced. High-resolution computed tomography revealed interstitial pneumonia. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumoniae was diagnosed from bronchoalveolar lavage. Instead of TMP/SMX, pentamidine and caspofungin were also used for PJP, with no improvement. After 3 weeks, the patient deteriorated. Because of his life-threatening condition, TMP/SMX was introduced in the sulfonamide desensitization protocol, including hydrocortisone and clemastinum. Within 4 days, the patient stabilized with no signs of TMP/SMX intolerance. Pneumonia subsided within a month, and TMP/SMX was prescribed lifelong.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
Prophylaxis for PJP with TMP/SMX still remains an important issue in transplant recipients. Adverse reaction to TMP/SMX in the past is not always a contraindication to reintroducing prophylaxis. The decision of prophylaxis avoidance should be analyzed carefully; in uncertain cases, a sulfonamide desensitization protocol should be considered.

Identifiants

pubmed: 38760300
pii: S0041-1345(24)00187-8
doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2024.03.022
pii:
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of competing interest All the authors declare no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Auteurs

Karolina Baran (K)

Department of Transplantology, Immunology, Nephrology and Internal Diseases, Warsaw, Poland.

Agnieszka Furmańczyk-Zawiska (A)

Department of Transplantology, Immunology, Nephrology and Internal Diseases, Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: afurmanczyk@gmail.com.

Renata Wieczorek-Godlewska (R)

Department of Transplantology, Immunology, Nephrology and Internal Diseases, Warsaw, Poland.

Przemysław Nitek (P)

Department of Transplantology, Immunology, Nephrology and Internal Diseases, Warsaw, Poland.

Magdalena Durlik (M)

Department of Transplantology, Immunology, Nephrology and Internal Diseases, Warsaw, Poland.

Classifications MeSH