Pneumocystis-associated organizing pneumonia as a manifestation of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in an HIV-infected individual with a normal CD4+ T-cell count following antiretroviral therapy

Abstract

We describe a rare case of Pneumocystic jirovecii-associated organizing pneumonia (PJP) in an HIV-infected individual on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with a CD4(+) T-cell count of 835 x 10(3) cells/mL and a low viral load. PJP was confirmed using transbronchial biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage. The presentation in this patient suggests immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) after institution of antiretroviral therapy (ART). This case report, however, is the first documented presentation of PJP in a patient with CD4 count greater than 300 prior to the induction of HAART who developed PJP and organizing pneumonia as a manifestation of IRIS. This suggests that there is continuing immune dysfunction in the face of re-expansion of CD4(+) T-cells and low viral load in HIV patients despite ART.