Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in a rheumatoid arthritis patient treated with adalimumab

Authors: Kalyoncu, Umut¹; Karadag, Omer¹; Akdogan, Ali¹; Kisacik, Bunyamin¹; Erman, Mustafa²; Erguven, Sibel³; Ertenli, A. Ihsan¹

Source: Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 39, Number 5, 2007 , pp. 475-478(4)

Publisher: Informa Healthcare

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Abstract:

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased risk of infection as a result of alterations in immune regulation, debility, and comorbid illnesses. TNF-α is of central importance in the pathophysiological responses to infection and inflammation, and plays a crucial role in host defence. Pneumocystis carinii is an opportunistic pathogen that commonly affects individuals with inadequate T-cell mediated immune response. Patients with acquired immune deficiency, as well as those receiving immunosuppressive drugs for various conditions have an increased risk of P. carinii pneumonia (PCP). We report the development of PCP in a woman with RA shortly after the initiation of anti-TNF-α treatment with adalimumab.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00365540601071867

Affiliations: 1: From the Department of Internal Medicine Division of Rheumatology, Ankara, Turkey 2: Department of Preventive Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Ankara, Turkey 3: Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

Publication date: 2007-01-01

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