title: Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after Rituximab-containing regimen: two cases of report and literature review.
abstract: Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody against CD20+ antigen specific B cell, has been increasingly used in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and some other autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis. It is noted that Rituximab could enhanced the efficacy of CHOP-based chemotherapy. Meanwhile it could increase the opportunity of lung infection. Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP), a rare opportunistic infection that was not reported in the large-scale clinical trials of Rituximab, was found recently in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with remedy containing Rituximab. We herein report two cases of PCP in lymphoma patients after Rituximab-containing chemotherapy. Both patients were successfully treated, with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) in one case and Caspofungin alone in the other. We also reviewed the literature and concluded that PCP is an infrequent but potentially life-threatening infection in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma subjected to Rituximab-containing regimen. Therefore, adequate prophylaxis, timely diagnosis and treatment are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei 230001, China;
authors.forename: Xu-Qin
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Xiao-Jing
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ming-Hong
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bao
keywords: Caspofungin; Rituximab; non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP)