Hypercalcemia and suppressed PTH levels in a renal transplant patient infected with Pneumocystis carinii.
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is a serious and relatively common complication of immunosuppressive therapy. In immunocompromised patients, P. carinii pneumonia can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Another common complication, typically seen in the subpopulation of renal transplant recipients, is hypercalcemia. The prevalence of hypercalcemia varies, reaching as high as 71%. We report the case of a renal transplant recipient who developed P. carinii pneumonia and hypercalcemia, the latter being resolved after the successful treatment of the former. We argue that there is a causal relationship between P. carinii pneumonia and hypercalcemia in renal transplant recipients. In immunocompromised patients, pulmonary infection accompanied by hypercalcemia should raise the suspicion of P. carinii pneumonia.
Aguirre
Anna Rita
AR
Intensive Care Unit, Nephrology Department, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. annarita77@yahoo.com
Balbo
Bruno Eduardo Pedroso
BE
Ianhez
Luiz Estevam
LE
da Costa
Maristela Carvalho
MC
Andrade
Lúcia
L
D002117:Calcitriol / Q000097:blood; D015984:Causality; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*
D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D002117:Calcitriol