Systemic inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who are colonized with Pneumocystis jiroveci

Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Jul 15;45(2):e17-9. doi: 10.1086/518989. Epub 2007 Jun 6.

Abstract

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, high levels of airway and systemic inflammatory markers are associated with a faster decrease in lung function. Our study shows that patients colonized by Pneumocystis jiroveci have higher proinflammatory cytokine levels than do noncolonized patients. This suggests that Pneumocystis may play a role in disease progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cohort Studies
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Cytokines / analysis
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Male
  • Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis*
  • Opportunistic Infections / epidemiology
  • Opportunistic Infections / immunology
  • Pneumocystis carinii / isolation & purification*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / epidemiology
  • Prognosis
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / epidemiology
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / immunology
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / microbiology*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators