Fatal infection of Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia in a pemphigus patient treated with rituximab

Abstract

Rituximab is an effective treatment for pemphigus and can be considered as a first-line treatment for severe cases.^1-4 Rituximab increases the risk of infection with Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP), an opportunistic pathogen, especially in hematopoietic stem cell transplant and Wegener's granulomatosis, with a high associated mortality rate up to 30%.⁵ The risk of PJP infection in pemphigus patients treated with rituximab has been underreported to date.

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