Lymphocyte surge as a marker for immunorestitution disease due to Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in HIV-negative immunosuppressed hosts

Excerpt

Pneumocystis jiroveci (previously known as Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. hominis) pneumonia (PcP) [1] is a well-known opportunistic infection affecting immunocompromised hosts, especially patients infected with HIV. However, with the rising number of patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, PcP is being increasingly recognised in immunosuppressed hosts who are not infected with HIV [2]. For instance, one previous study found PcP in 3.4–43% of solid organ transplant recipients not infected with HIV, with an especially high incidence among patients on long-term steroid therapy [3]. Though the exact pathogenesis of PcP remains obscure, it has been suggested that immunorestitution disease (IRD) contributes to the manifestation of PcP [4]. Reported here are seven cases of PcP manifesting as IRD in HIV-negative immunosuppressed hosts. …