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Refractory flare-up of severe bronchial asthma controlled with mepolizumab due to Pneumocystis pneumonia: a case report

BACKGROUND: Biologics dramatically improve symptoms of severe asthma; however, various exacerbating factors may induce flare-up. Pneumocystis spp. have not been reported as a cause of asthma exacerbation during biologic use, although patients with severe asthma have high levels of antibodies against...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Takeda, Kazuya, Sumi, Toshiyuki, Nagahisa, Yuta, Matsuura, Keigo, Sekikawa, Motoki, Watanabe, Hiroki, Yamada, Yuichi, Chiba, Hirofumi
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: BioMed Central 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9035245/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35461263
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13223-022-00678-y
Descripción
Sumario:BACKGROUND: Biologics dramatically improve symptoms of severe asthma; however, various exacerbating factors may induce flare-up. Pneumocystis spp. have not been reported as a cause of asthma exacerbation during biologic use, although patients with severe asthma have high levels of antibodies against Pneumocystis spp. CASE PRESENTATION: An 87-year-old female with severe asthma that was well-controlled with mepolizumab, who developed a steroid-resistant refractory flare-up. Chest computed tomography showed bilateral ground glass opacities, and results of polymerase chain reaction tests on induced sputum were positive for Pneumocystis DNA. Therefore, a diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia was made. The clinical symptoms improved after treatment with sulfamethoxazole–trimethoprim. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of Pneumocystis pneumonia as a cause of refractory exacerbation of bronchial asthma during use of interleukin-5 inhibitors.