Pneumocystis jirovecii (formerly Pneumocystis carinii) pneumonia (PCP) is a rare but serious infection that usually occurs within a year after solid organ transplantation. PCP may occur after 1 year post transplantation, but the rate is reported to be very low. Studies have shown an association between cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in solid organ transplant patients and an increased risk of opportunistic infection. This increased risk is thought to be a result of the immunomodulatory effects of the CMV infection. We present a case of PCP infection occurring 13 years after a renal transplantation. This occurred following a recurrent CMV infection while the patient was on low-dose immunosuppressants.
Figure 1 is a picture of a 48-year-old male patient who presents with progressive painful enlargement of the areolae of 10 months’ duration. There was no bleeding or nipple discharge. He was diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection 16 months ago and was initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ARV), which consisted of zidovudine, lamivudine and efavirenz. As his CD4 cell count at diagnosis was less than 200 cells/mm3, he was prescribed trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (Bactrim) for prophylaxis against pneumonia due to pneumocystis jirovecii. Physical examination was unremarkable except for bilateral breast enlargement and right-sided old shingles scar in the T4 dermatome distribution.