Pneumocystis pneumonia secondary to intensive immunosuppression treatment for anti-GBM disease complicated with IgA nephropathy A case report and literature review

Rationale: The estimated incidence of anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease complicated with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy is minimal, there have only been 15 cases (including this case) reported in the literature, and only 5 (33.33%) of them showed significant improvement in renal function after treatment. Pneumocystis pneumonia is a severe opportunistic pulmonary infection of pneumocystis jiroveci in immunocompromised patients. Here, we report a case of pneumocystis pneumonia secondary to intensive immunosuppression treatment for anti-GBM disease complicated with IgA nephropathy, with no similar reports or studies published before to our knowledge. Patient concerns: The patient was admitted to our hospital with a 1-week diagnosis of crescent glomerulonephritis who had been suffered from hematuria and foamy urine for more than 1 month. Before admission, the patient received pulse dose intravenous methylprednisolone and immunosuppression with rituximab, but the renal function and titer of pathogenic antibody did not improve significantly. Diagnosis: Crescentic glomerulonephritis, anti-glomerular basal membrane disease complicated with IgA nephropathy (Type I+II) was pathologically confirmed by renal biopsy. Secondary pneumocystis pneumonia was diagnosed by acute progressive respiratory failure, chest computed tomography and metagenomic next-generation sequencing of transbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Interventions: The key to successful treatment was to make the pathogenic antibody turn negative quickly by combining pulse dose intravenous methylprednisolone, immunosuppression with rituximab, and plasma exchange therapy. Early identification of pneumocystis pneumonia, accurate etiological identification, and active anti-infective treatment were also crucial. Outcomes: The patient was discharged after 16 days of anti-infection with secondary infection controlled and dialysis catheter removed. Up to now, the patient has been followed for a period of 28 weeks, results showed renal function had been repaired even hematuria and proteinuria were basically alleviated. Lessons: Our case provided experience in the treatment of anti-GBM disease complicated with IgA nephropathy, further proposed the potential therapeutic effects of rituximab, also illustrated low dose hormone combined with tacrolimus can be used as sequential therapy after plasma exchange and intensive immunosuppression. Our research also suggested that resulting in severe immune suppression, a high risk of secondary pneumocystis opportunistic infection should be aware of. metagenomic next-generation sequencing might increase the detection rate of the pathogen.

Automated summary

This is a rare case of pneumocystis pneumonia secondary to anti-GBM disease complicated with IgA nephropathy, with successful treatment involving rapid clearance of pathogenic antibody, early identification of pneumonia, and active anti-infective therapy.