title: Positivity for anti-RNP antibody is a risk factor for adverse effects caused by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, a prophylactic agent for P. jiroveci pneumonia, in patients with connective tissue diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (TMP-STX), an agent used for prophylaxis against pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in immunocompromised hosts, causes serious adverse effects (AEs) in some patients. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for AEs caused by TMP-STX in connective tissue disease (CTD) patients and to describe the clinical features of the AEs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of 539 patients (CTDs 312, pulmonary diseases 227) receiving TMP-STX for prophylaxis against PCP were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with human immunodeficiency virus were excluded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adverse events caused by TMP-STX occurred in 22 of 312 (7.05 %) CTD patients, while only six of 227 (2.64 %) pulmonary disease patients developed AEs. The incidence of AEs was significantly higher in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (11.0 %) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) (33.3 %) patients than in other CTD patients. AEs occurred in 25 % of patients with anti-RNP antibody. Univariate analysis revealed that SLE, MCTD, and anti-RNP antibody were risk factors for AEs in CTD patients. Further multivariate analyses demonstrated that only anti-RNP antibody positivity was a risk factor for AEs. Systemic inflammation, including fever, was a characteristic manifestation of the AEs in CTD patients, particularly those with anti-RNP antibody.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positivity for anti-RNP antibody is a risk factor for AEs caused by TMP-STX in CTD patients. Systemic inflammation, including fever, might be a characteristic feature of the AEs in CTD patients, particularly those with anti-RNP antibody.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kita-Kobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi, 321-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Reika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maezawa
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurasawa
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Harutsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Takayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Owada
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D045363:Pneumocystis carinii / Q000187:drug effects; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination