Risk factors of the onset of pneumocystis pneumonia during immunosuppressive treatment in patients with ulcerative colitis: retrospective case-control study

Abstract

Purpose: To elucidate risk factors on the onset of Pneumocystis Pneumonia (PCP) in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) treated by immunosuppressants. Materials & Methods: Of the 1,669 patients with UC during 2007 to 2017, 70 patients experienced pneumonia including that 9 patients experienced PCP. Retrospective case-control study was conducted using PCP group (n=9) and non-PCP group (n=36). Results: Two patients in PCP group died. Age and dose of prednisolone (PSL) mg/day were significantly greater (P=0.02 and P=0.002, respectively), three im-munosuppressants were significantly moreused (P=0.004), and the count of lymphocytes during treatment was significantly less (P＜0.001) in PCP group than in non-PCP group. The cut-off counts of lymphocytes were 570/μL, according to ROC analysis. Conclusion: Senior age, greater dose of PSL (mg/day), less counts of lymphocytes dur-ing treatment were risk factors of the onset of PCP. Prophylactic medicine of sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim should be used for UC patients with risk factors.