J Korean Rheum Assoc.  2005 Mar;12(1):47-51.

Pulmonary Nocardiosis in a Patient with Lupus Nephritis

• Chang SJ
• Lee KN
• Sung YK
• Lee HS
• Uhm WS
• Kim TH
• Jun JB
• Pai HJ
• Bae SC
• Jeon SC
• Yoo DH

Abstract

Nocardiosis is uncommon in healthy people, but occurs as an opportunistic infection in patients with connective tissue disease, solid organ transplantation, lung disease, malignancies, and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Nocardia is a gram positive, variably acid-fast aerobic bacterium of the family Nocardiaceae characterized by branching and filamentous growth, with distinctive aerial hyphae. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, immunosuppressiion with cytotoxic drugs or corticosteroids, proteinuria, renal insufficiency, and active SLE itself are known as risk factors for serious bacterial infections and opportunistic infections. We report a case of pulmonary Nocardiosis in patient with lupus nephritis treated with cyclophosphamide and high dose corticosteroid.

Keyword

Systemic lupus erythematosus; Lupus nephritis; Nocardia; Pulmonary Nocardiosis; Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

MeSH Terms

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Bacterial Infections
Connective Tissue Diseases
Cyclophosphamide
Humans
Hyphae
Lung Diseases
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
Lupus Nephritis*
Nocardia
Nocardia Infections*
Nocardiaceae
Opportunistic Infections
Organ Transplantation
Proteinuria
Renal Insufficiency
Risk Factors
Transplants
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Cyclophosphamide