Abstract
Background: Pneumocystis pneumonia is attracted attention as one of opportunistic infection in immunosuppressive patients. A part of them progress severe respiratory failure and is difficult to treat. It is particular in non-HIV patients.
Methods: Patients who were hospitalized because of the Pneumocystis pneumonia were enrolled in the study between 2005 and 2010 at Shinshu University Hospital. The patients' condition, laboratory data, the respiratory management, and oxygenation were analyzed. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed on admission if possible.
Results: Fifteen patients were hospitalized (mean age 62.3±14.4, male 11/female 4). Eight patients were treated with mechanical ventilation and 5 patients died in hospital. In comparison between survivor and non-survivor, serumβ-D glucan, a marker of pneumocystis infection, had no significant difference. However, serum KL-6 concentrations, a marker of type II cell injury and/or proliferation, in survivors were higher than that in non-survivors (survivor 1106.1±943.7 vs non-survivor 3286.5±1523.9, p=0.0174). Furthermore, the KL-6 concentration was related with PaO2/FIO2 of patients significantly.
Conclusion: We suggested that serum KL-6 elevation showed patients severity in pneumocystis pneumonia.
- © 2011 ERS
