Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia due to corticosteroids.
A patient receiving long-term corticosteroid therapy for asthma had two episodes of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) 8 years apart. She had no other causes of immunosuppression. Experimental evidence indicates that corticosteroid administration causes a reduction in T lymphocytes mediated by suppression of cytokines. Corticosteroid therapy is a rare but possible independent predisposition to PCP.
Farr
R W
RW
Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver.
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008875:Middle Aged; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones