Severe hypercalcemia preceding a diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a liver transplant recipient

BMC Infect Dis. 2019 Aug 22;19(1):739. doi: 10.1186/s12879-019-4370-z.

Abstract

Background: Incidence of the opportunistic infection Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) in solid organ transplant patients ranges from 5 to 15% with a mortality of up to 38%.

Case presentation: We present a liver transplant recipient who developed hypoxemic respiratory failure related to PJP soon after treatment for allograft rejection. His presentation was preceded by severe hypercalcemia of 14.6 mg/dL and an ionized calcium of 1.7 mmol/L which remained elevated despite usual medical management and eventually required renal replacement therapy. As approximately 5% of PJP cases have granulomas, here we review the role of pulmonary macrophages and inflammatory cytokines in the pathophysiology of granuloma-mediated hypercalcemia. We also discuss the interpretation of our patient's laboratory studies, response to medical therapy, and clinical risk factors which predisposed him to PJP.

Conclusions: It is important for clinicians to consider PJP as an etiology of granulomatous pneumonia and non-parathyroid hormone mediated hypercalcemia in chronically immunosuppressed organ transplant recipients for timely diagnosis and management.

Keywords: Hypercalcemia; Pneumocystis; Pneumonia; Transplant.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Hypercalcemia / diagnosis*
  • Hypercalcemia / etiology
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Liver Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Opportunistic Infections / complications
  • Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis
  • Pneumocystis carinii*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / complications
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / diagnosis*
  • Prodromal Symptoms*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Transplant Recipients*