ABSTRACT:
Pneumocystis is a genus of unicellular fungi found in the respiratory tracts of many mammals and humans. Distinct genomic variability exists between host-specific members of the genus. The patient population comprised 83 females (81.7%) and 19 males (18.3%). The mean age of the patients when they received their first biologic agent was 58.0 years (range, 14 to 86 years).The mean observation period was 16.6 months (range,2 weeks to 60 months) and 21 patients (20.1%) received TMP/SMX prophylaxis. A total of 38 patients (37.7%) had coexisting pulmonary disease, 44 patients (43.2%) received glucocorticoid therapy and the mean dose (±SD) of glucocorticoid (converted to the prednisolone (PSL) equivalent) was 4.46 mg ± 3.64 mg. A total of 78.5% of patients were given MTX, and the average dose of MTX in patients treated with MTX was 8.96 mg/wk. Nine (1.28%) of the one hundred two patients developed PCP, and none of the patients in the group treated with TMP/SMX prophylaxis developed PCP. There are 81patients, the mean age in their group was significantly older (68.9 years vs. 55.3 years); the serum level of IgG was significantly lower (1,496 mg/dl vs. 1,619 mg/dl); the dose of MTX was significantly lower (6.09 mg vs.7.28 mg); and the ratios of patients treated with glucocorticoids, PCP complicated with coexisting pulmonary disease and PCP complicated with DM were significantly higher (53.9% vs. 40.8%, 72.3% vs. 29.1% and 21.3% vs.10.5%, respectively).