Pneumocystis pneumonia diagnosed by repeated measurements of β-D-glucan levels

Abstract

β-D-glucan is extensively employed as a supplementary diagnostic tool for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and typically yields positive results in most cases.We present a case of a 73-year-old woman with a history of rheumatoid arthritis, who was receiving biological agents and was admitted due to pneumonia.Initially, the β-D-glucan test was negative. However, as the disease progressed, it eventually turned positive, leading to the diagnosis of PCP. The patient was treated with corticosteroids and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, resulting in pneumonia resolution.Our findings suggest that repeated assessment of β-D-glucan levels holds diagnostic value in patients without human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Keywords

• Pneumocystis pneumonia
• Non-HIV-Infected patients
• β-D-glucan
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Biological agents