A case of granulomatosis with polyangiitis complicated by cyclophosphamide toxicity and opportunistic infections: choosing between Scylla and Charybdis

Comparison of High-Dose versus Low-Dose Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole for Treating Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia among Hemodialysis Patients: A Nationwide Database Study in Japan

Background: Hemodialysis patients are at high risk for developing Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is the first-line agent for treating this disease. However, there is a lack of consensus on the required dosage of TMP-SMX for hemodialysis patients. Methods: This study used the nationwide Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database to review hemodialysis patients hospitalized for PJP from April 2014 to March 2022. Eligible patients were divided into high-dose and low-dose groups based on the median daily dose per body weight of TMP. The 90-day mortality and adverse events after propensity score matching were compared between the groups. Results: A total of 126 hemodialysis patients with PJP were included, and the median daily dose per body weight of TMP was 5.74 mg/kg/day (interquartile range: 4.33-8.18 mg/kg/day). Thirty-two pairs were analyzed after the propensity score matching. No significant differences in the 90-day mortality and proportion of adverse events were observed between the high-dose and low-dose groups. Conclusions: A high dose of TMP-SMX is unlikely to decrease the in-hospital mortality and adverse events among hemodialysis patients with PJP. However, the results should be interpreted with caution, given the lack of power and lack of long-term follow-up. Additional prospective interventional studies are required to validate these results.

Case report: A HIV-negative hemodialysis patient positive for pANCA with severe pneumocystis pneumonia: A case report and review of literature

RATIONALE

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is an opportunistic fungal infection that occurs in people with impaired or suppressed immunity such as patients with human immunodeficiency virus or organ transplant. However, the incidence and characteristics of PCP in the population with long-term hemodialysis is poorly described in the literature.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We present a case of a 50-year-old female patient being transferred to our hospital in February 2022 with a 20-day history of cough and tight breath. She received amoxicillin and cephalosporin anti-infection treatment successively in local hospital but no significant improvement in symptoms. She had a 2-year history of hemodialysis and no relevant transplantation and human immunodeficiency virus infection. She was diagnosed as ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV) and given oral prednisone acetate (20 mg/day) and methotrexate (2.5 mg/week) half a year ago.

DIAGNOSES

Based on the patient's medical history, Lung computerized tomography image, the Next generation sequencing report, the patient was diagnosed with renal failure, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis, and Pneumocystis pneumonia.

INTERVENTIONS

The dosage of immunosuppressant was reduced due to leucocyte dripping and fever, and antibiotic and antifungal treatment were also given. The patient's lung condition was getting worse and noninvasive ventilator was required to maintain blood oxygen. Blood filtration is used to remove toxins. Ganciclovir and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was used based on the next generation sequencing report.

OUTCOMES

The patient died of respiratory failure.

LESSONS

The risk of PCP in hemodialysis patients may be higher than that in ordinary population, and the prognosis of patients with immunosuppression may be worse. Dynamic assessment of vasculitis activity is necessary for hemodialysis patients with AAV because infections may obscure lung symptoms of AAV. It is not recommended that hemodialysis patients with long-term immunosuppression should reduce or stop the dosage of immunosuppressive drugs during the treatment because it may aggravate the condition of PCP. There is still no clear conclusion on whether hemodialysis patients need preventive medicine, but the identification of risk factors and early diagnosis and treatment are important for the prognosis of PCP on hemodialysis population.