A case of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome who showed eosinophilia and an increased serum TARC/CCL17 level

Yuki Yabuuchi; Masashi Matsuyama; Sosuke Matsumura; Masayuki Nakajima; Yoshihiko Kiyasu; Yuto Takeuchi; Yoshihiko Murata; Ryota Matsuoka; Masayuki Noguchi; Nobuyuki Hizawa

doi:10.4081/mrm.2022.802

A case of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome who showed eosinophilia and an increased serum TARC/CCL17 level

Authors

Yuki Yabuuchi Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8190-6220
Masashi Matsuyama Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8880-6951
Sosuke Matsumura Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki
Masayuki Nakajima Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5866-5588
Yoshihiko Kiyasu Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki
Yuto Takeuchi Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki
Yoshihiko Murata Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki
Ryota Matsuoka Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki
Masayuki Noguchi Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki
Nobuyuki Hizawa Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/mrm.2022.802

Keywords:

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, eosinophilia, eosinophilic pneumonia, TARC/CCL17

Abstract

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) shows eosinophilic pneumonia like condition. The detailed mechanisms how AIDS-associated PCP causes eosinophilic pneumonia has not been elucidated, but it has been suggested that beta-D-glucan, a major component of Pneumocystis jirovecii, and T helper type 2 immunity may be involved in the mechanism of eosinophilia in the lung. We experienced the case who developed an eosinophilic pneumonia-like condition in a patient with AIDS-associated PCP, whose clinical course indicated the importance of TARC/CCL17 but not IL-4 and IL-5 as involved in eosinophilia caused by HIV and Pneumocystis jirovecii infection.

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