Increased mRNA expression of key cytokines among suspected cases of Pneumocystis jirovecii infection.

BACKGROUND: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a fatal infectious disease caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii (PJP). The major factor relevant to morbidity and mortality seems to be the host inflammatory reaction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 cytokine mRNA expression among suspected P. jirovecii infection. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analytical study undertaken in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. One hundred suspected PCP cases and 100 healthy controls were included in the study. Basic clinical manifestations, radiological findings, microbiological and immunological findings were extracted from the hospital records from January 2019 to August 2019, Pneumocystis detection was done by immune-fluorescent staining (IFAT, Gomorimethanamine silver staining (GMSS), Giemsa staining, Toluidine blue O (TBO), and Pneumocystis RT-PCR. RESULTS: Increased more than 5 fold, 3 fold, 4 fold, and 7 fold of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 mRNA expression were observed in PCP cases compared to controls. Higher expression of IL-2 mRNA was connected with crept, wheezing and chest X-ray findings like central perihilar infiltrate, patchy infiltrate, consolidation, hilar lymphadenopathy, pneumothorax, pleural effusion which showed higher expression compared to counterpart (p< 0.0001). Higher expression of IL-4 mRNA was found to be significantly associated with weight loss (p=0.002), dyspnea (p=0.003), crept (p=0.01), and chest X-ray findings (p< 0.0001). Significantly increased expression of IL-10 mRNA was observed to be associated with weight loss, dyspnea, night sweats, wheezing, and different findings of chest X-ray compared to their counterparts, whereas, IL-13 mRNA was observed in cases with fever. Suspected cases of PCP confirmed positive by IFTA with higher IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 mRNA expression compared to negative cases. RT-PCR confirmed PCP cases had significantly higher expression of IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 as well as IL-13 mRNA compared to negative cases. Positive detected cases by GMSS showed higher IL-2, IL-10 mRNA expression, while Giemsa showed only higher IL-4 mRNA expression compared to negative cases. CONCLUSION: Confirmed cases of P. jirovecii showed higher IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 mRNA expression comparatively to negative cases. Increased expression of cytokines may be indicative of infection severity and could help in patients' management.

Co-Presentation of Giant Cell Arteritis and Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND Systemic vasculitis can present with a multitude of symptoms involving multiple organ systems. Clinicians should avoid anchoring bias and be cognizant that different types of vasculitides can be present in the same patient and that the diagnosis of one should not preclude the subsequent diagnosis of another. CASE REPORT A 67-year-old woman was referred for evaluation of episodes of epistaxis and recurrent severe sinusitis. Her physical examination showed nasal congestion and purpuric rash on the lower extremities. CT of the sinuses showed severe mucosal thickening. ANCA serologies were positive with a c-ANCA titer of 1: 5120 and anti-proteinase-3 (anti-PR3) antibodies of 1061 units. Serum creatinine was elevated at 1.32 mg/dL (GFR of 40.62 ml/min). Urine analysis showed proteinuria and hematuria. The patient declined treatment initially, but while awaiting kidney biopsy she developed episodes of headache and blurry vision. She underwent right temporal artery biopsy 4 days later, which confirmed the diagnosis of GCA. The biopsy showed characteristic histopathology findings and she was started on 60 mg of prednisone daily. The kidney biopsy showed pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis (PICGN) consistent with ANCA-associated vasculitis. We identified all the cases of co-presentation of GCA and GPA in the literature and summarized their clinical features in this report. CONCLUSIONS Astute clinicians should be cognizant of overlapping and atypical presentations of vasculitides to avoid delayed diagnosis and errors in management.