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Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus after rituximab therapy

Clinical Rheumatology volume 33, pages 415–418 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

New cases of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) have recently been reported in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) after rituximab therapy. Several factors may contribute to susceptibility to P. jirovecii infection in this type of patients, including the immunological characteristics of the disease, the mechanisms of rituximab action, environmental factors, and the biological characteristics of the fungus. We report two patients with SLE who developed PJP after rituximab therapy.

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Affiliations

  1. Rheumatology Unit, Cra. 98N. 18-49, Fundación Valle del Lili-ICESI University, Cali, Colombia

    F Bonilla-Abadía, G J Tobón & C A Cañas

  2. Internal Medicine Unit, Fundación Valle del Lili-CES University, Cali, Colombia

    J F Betancurt

  3. Internal Medicine Unit, Fundación Valle del Lili-ICESI University, Cali, Colombia

    J C Pineda

  4. Infectious Diseases Unit, Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali, Colombia

    J D Vélez

Authors
  1. F Bonilla-Abadía
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  2. J F Betancurt
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  3. J C Pineda
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  4. J D Vélez
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  5. G J Tobón
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  6. C A Cañas
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Correspondence to C A Cañas.

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Bonilla-Abadía, F., Betancurt, J.F., Pineda, J.C. et al. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus after rituximab therapy. Clin Rheumatol 33, 415–418 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-013-2475-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-013-2475-0

Keywords

  • Pneumonia
  • Pneumocystis
  • Pneumocystis jirovecii
  • Rituximab
  • Systemic
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus