Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Research

Keywords

Cytomegalovirus pneumonia; Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia; Immunocompetent

Introduction

The clinical manifestations of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may be divided into acute primary infection and reactivation. Primary CMV infection occurs most frequently during breastfeeding and childhood [1], and is asymptomatic or present as a mild mononucleosis-like syndrome in immunocompetent adults [2]. Then the virus persists for life in the host, generally in the latent stage. Reactivation of CMV from latency is well known in immunocompromised patients [3], and it can affect almost any organ. However, severe CMV pneumonia is rare in immunocompetent hosts [4-6]. Presently, the precise molecular and immunological mechanisms involved are still unknown.

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is a clinical condition characterized by cough, malaise, fever, and dyspnoea and no response to antibiotics [7]. Its chest radiograph described as local, multiple and diffuses changes [8]. It may be found with allergic alveolitis, irradiation pneumonitis, drug reactions and other organizing infections [9,10]. Cases involved in viral etiology complicated with BOOP have sporadically been reported. Here, we present a case of CMV pneumonia associated with BOOP in an immunocompetent patient by therapy of ganciclovir, which is the first such case ever reported as far as we known.

Case Report

A 63-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to a 10 day history of cough and fever. He had a paroxysmal cough with yellow sputum. Fever, with wheezing mainly appeared in the afternoon and night and the highest temperature was 39.3(102.74). His earlier medical history included hypertension, diabetes, and gout. His previous family history was unremarkable. His vital signs were as follows: body temperature: 36.5 (97.7 ), heart rate: 98 beat per minute (BPM), blood pressure: 98/61 mmHg.

On physical examination, late inspiratory crackles were noted in the bilateral lower lung fields. White blood cells (WBC) count was 14.2 × 109/L, with 81.9% neutrophils (NEUTR), 12.8% lymphocytes (LYR) and 0.53 × 109/L monocytes (MONOR) (Figure 1). Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level was 110.67 mg/L.

Figure 1: Time-course of the laboratory tests of blood routine, arterial blood gas analysis and body temperature.

Arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) was 75.5 mmHg, with 25.8 mmHg arterial partial pressure of CO2 (PaCO2) and 94.7% oxygen saturation (SaO2, 2 L/min oxygen supply via nasal cannula). Because of the fever and the signs of respiratory infections, we experientially started antibiotic treatment with piperacillin tazobactam. However, the patient’s temperature did not reduce and shortness of breath developed in persistent 4 days of hospital admission.

Arterial blood gas measurements revealed failure of respiration (PaO2: 53.5 mmHg, PaCO2: 35.6 mmHg, SaO2: 87.7%) with counterbalanced metabolic acidosis (HCO3 -: 21 mmol/l, pH 7.39) when using 2 L/min oxygen by nasal cannula. Laboratory investigation results were as follows: mycoplasma pneumonia antibody: 1:40 (positive), bacterial endotoxin (the total content of lipopolysaccharide of gram negative bacteria): 49.14 pg/ mL, plasma fibrinogen (Fg): 7.51 g/L, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT): 45.9 second.

The electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia with T wave change. Chest X-ray found two pulmonary infections, not except pulmonary interstitial lesions (Figure 2A). A thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan revealed pulmonary interstitial lesions (shadow of grid in both lungs), and mediastinal lymph node enlargement (Figure 2D). Then, 3.5 L/min oxygen was supplied with face mask and antibiotic treatment was switched to Cefoperazone Sodium and Sulbactam Sodium plus Levofloxacin.

Figure 2: Radiological changes including chest X-ray (A, B, and C) and CT scan (D, E, F, and G). Bilateral reticular shadows in both lung fields (A, D1, D2) were showed in radiological test. Reticular shadows quickly spread around two lungs (B, E1, E2). Lesions in both lungs regressed significantly following ganciclovir (C, F1, F2).

Considering diagnosis of an interstitial pneumonia, relevant laboratory tests and fiberoptic bronchoscopy were performed on day 5. Laboratory test results were as follows: CMV PCR: negative, CMV IgM: negative, immunoglobulin IgG: positive, HIV: negative, WBC: 7.96 × 109 /L, NEUTR: 72.4%, LYR: 17%, CRP: 77.51 mg/L, immunologic function (T, B, NK cells): normal, T-lymphocyte subsets: normal. Markers for autoimmune diseases including perinuclear-ANCA (p-ANCA), cytoplasmic-ANCA (c-ANCA), ANA and anti-dsDNA were all negative.

Pulmonary function suggested moderate restrictive ventilatory dysfunction. X-ray and CT scan revealed lesions on upper pulmonary were absorbed, but it was exacerbated in the right lower lung (Figure 2B and 2E).

A bronchoscopy showed bilateral bronchitis (Figure 3A). Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was negative for mycobacteria and PAS stain. Differential cell count showed 11% neutrophils, 19% lymphocytes and 70% macrophages. Intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were found in lateral basal segment of the lung tissue transbronchial biopsy (TBLB) of the right lower (Figure 3B). Based on the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus pneumonia with organization, treatment with ganciclovir (5 mg/kg) via intravenous infusion every 12 hours was commenced on day 8. According to above finding combining with clinical symptoms (fever disappear), the antibiotic treatment was changed to Moxifloxacin on day 8. After 1 week of antivirus therapy, cough persistent. He underwent lung biopsy via CT-guided. A lung biopsy revealed BOOP (Figure 3C). Then the patient treat with oral steroid hormone. Nevertheless his symptoms gradually improved in the following 1 week. Chest X-ray revealed that two lung lesions were better than before (Figure 2C).

Figure 3: Endoscopic finding (A) and microscopic views of histologic specimen (B, C). A, Chronic inflammation was appeared in the mucosa of bronchus. B, intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were found in Lateral basal segment of the lung tissue.

Treatment was changed to oral ganciclovir, 0.6 g/d (q12h) for 7 days, discharge. In his follow-up, shadow of grid in both lungs regressed significantly (Figure 2F and 2G). He is still under follow-up at the outpatient clinic.

Discussion

CMV is a DNA virus in the family Herpesviridae, and its infection is common. Indeed, 40% to 100% of adults are infected with CMV all over the world [11,12]. CMV infections in the general population are usually subclinical. The symptomatic CMV infection mainly occurred in immunocompromised patients with immune dysfunction, including patients with AIDS, malignancy, transplant recipients, and neonates [2,13]. In cases with immunodeficiency, CMV infection can cause pneumonia, retinitis, hepatitis, encephalitis, demyelinating polyneuropathy, myocarditis, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal diseases and adrenal diseases, and so on [13,14]. On the contrary, severe life-threatening infection induced by CMV, including CMV pneumonia, is handful in immunocompetent individuals [4-6]. In this paper we describe a case of CMV pneumonia, associated with BOOP in an immunocompetent host, and effectively treated with ganciclovir.

CMV pneumonia often presents as severe viral pneumonia [6], with diffuse interstitial infiltrates on chest X-ray and respiratory failure [5]. The laboratory diagnosis may be difficult, and are made serologically or pathologically. Generally, the serologic assays to detect human CMV infection are including CMV antibodies (IgM,IgG) titer, CMV protein pp65, and CMV PCR [15,16]. Importantly, histopathological detection of CMV inclusion bodies on transbronchial or open lung biopsy is pathognomonic, since CMV pneumonia in immunocompetent patients represents a rare event [5].

Our patient presented with non-specific symptoms (cough and fever), which had developed over the course of 10 days. The symptoms were deteriorated after 2 days in hospital (severe hypoxaemia), despite empirical antibiotic therapy. The diagnosis of CMV pneumonia was based on TBLB, which was found intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in giant cells as the gold standard. Moreover, serum CMV IgG antibody positive was another diagnostic index. The radiological picture including chest X-ray and CT scan showing bilateral reticular shadows in both lung fields supported the diagnosis of viral pneumonia. In our case, mononucleosis of blood routine was also observed (Figure 1). However, serum IgM CMV was negative in this case, which was in accordance with Eddleston report [4]. CMV PCR was also negative. It may be explain by false negative results induced by transient nature of the viremia [17].

During the hospitalization, his lymphocytes rate decreased significantly. Lymphopenia was caused by CMV infection for both direct inhibition of progenitor cell growth and the failure of stem cell self-renewal [18]. It may be noted that the immune function analysis such as T cell subset, B cell, and NK cell, analysis were normal. Transient or subclinical T cell abnormality and an inversion of the CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio were not observed in this case. In HIV disease, a decrease in CD4+ cells <100 × 10 6/L representing a high risk for CMV disease [19]. Furthermore, our patient exhibited no evidence of other immunodeficiencies (HIV: negative) and autoimmune diseases (autoimmune antibody: negative).

BOOP was first described by Epler et al. [20] and since then has been extensively investigated and reported throughout the world [21]. There are many infectious agents may be associated with BOOP, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) [22]. Parasitic and pneumocystis carinii infections has also been reported [23,24]. Because BOOP represent way in which the lung may respond to an inflammatory stimulus, the key pathophysiological findings are related to the inflammatory pathway. Histological features include granulation tissue in the walls of the alveoli and bronchioles are significant, associated with infiltration in interstitial and tracheal cavity by different degrees of mononuclear cells and foam cells. Type II alveolar epithelial cell hyperplasia may also be seen [20,25]. In the current patient, BOOP was diagnosed in lung biopsy one week later than TBLB, suggesting CMV may be the most probable pathogen.

Although there is no recommended standard duration for ganciclovir treatment for patients with CMV pneumonia, the medication could only be started after definitive diagnosis and is commonly administered for two to three weeks. As soon as treatment with ganciclovir, the clinical condition of our patient was improved, with complete resolution of the clinical and radiological picture under one month follow-up.

Conclusion

We report an acute CMV infection case, which presented with fever, cough, sputum and tachypnea. The latter deteriorated rapidly and is associated with respiratory failure. CT scan revealed a little change of ground glass on onset, but the change quickly spread around two lungs. Following of pathologic examination (TBLB), the diagnosis of CMV pneumonia was confirmed. For patients with no immunodeficiency disorders, it is very easy to misdiagnosis. The current report suggests that when chest CT showing interstitial lesions, in addition to consider tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia and other viral diseases, the CMV pneumonia should be included in elderly patients with a variety of basic disease. Importantly, this case demonstrated that cytomegalovirus pneumonia may associate with BOOP in an immunocompetent patient. Ganciclovir treatment is effective. Further studies are necessary to analyze the relationships and its underlying mechanism between the CMV pneumonia and BOOP.

Author’s contributions

CXC drafted and wrote the manuscript. WC, LL and LYH took care of the patient and contributed to coordinating the manuscript. XL carried out the microbiological assays. LYH contributed to the draft of the manuscript and revised the manuscript. All authors have read the manuscript and approved its final version.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Prof. Zhiqiang Qin for his theoretical supports.

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