Hypercalcemia associated with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in renal transplant recipients: case report and literature review.

Division of Nephrology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc , Brussels, Belgium. Division of Nephrology, Centre Hospitalier Peltzer-La Tourelle , Verviers, Belgium. Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain , Brussels, Belgium.

Acta clinica Belgica. 2021;(1):75-78
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Abstract

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii associated pneumonia is a potentially life-threatening opportunistic infection, occurring most frequently in the first year after renal transplantation, and may be associated with hypercalcemia. Clinical presentation:We report the case of a renal transplant recipient presenting with Pneumocystis jirovecii associated pneumonia and hypercalcemia due to ectopic production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, 6 years after renal transplantation. Calcemia and 1-25 hydroxyvitamin D levels normalized after our patient was treated by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Discussion: We review similar cases to delineate the clinical and biological profile of patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia associated hypercalcemia. Conclusion:Physicians should evoke this diagnosis in renal transplant recipients presenting with pulmonary infection associated with hypercalcemia.

Methodological quality

Publication Type : Case Reports ; Review

Metadata

MeSH terms : Kidney Transplantation