• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.5
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• pp.371-383
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• 2011

The number of immunocompromised patients has increased over the past decades due to HIV infection, solid and stem cell transplantation, intensified chemotherapy and treatment of autoimmune disease. Pneumonia is a major cause of both morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Clinical management of pneumonia is difficult, since differential diagnosis in this setting is broad and includes both infectious and noninfectious processes. Because the development of pneumonia in immunocompromised patients is frequently life threatening, early therapeutic and diagnostic intervention is essential to obtain better outcomes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.833-841
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• 1996

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2000

Objective: To describe the HRCT findings of cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia in non-AIDS immunocompromised patients Materials and Methods: This retrospective study involved the ten all non-AIDS immunocompromised patients with biopsy-proven CMV pneumonia and without other pulmonary infection encountered at our Medical Center between January 1997 and May 1999. HRCT scans were retrospectively analysed by two chest radiologists and decisions regarding the findings were reached by consensus. Results: The most frequent CT pattern was ground-glass opacity, seen in all patients, with bilateral patchy (n = 8) and diffuse (n = 2) distribution. Other findings included poorly-defined small nodules (n = 9) and consolidation (n = 7). There was no zonal predominance. The small nodules, bilateral in eight cases and unilateral in one, were all located in the centrilobular region. Consolidation (n = 7), with patchy distribution, was bilateral in five of seven patients (71%). Pleural effusion and bilateral areas of thickened interlobular septa were seen in six patients (60%). Conclusion: CMV pneumonia in non-AIDS immunocompromised patients appears on HRCT scans as bilateral mixed areas of ground-glass opacity, poorly-defined centrilobular small nodules, and consolidation. Interlobular septal thickening and pleural effusion are frequently associated.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.539-546
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• 2001

Background: Pulmonary complications in immunocompromised patients are often fatal. Empirical treatment is usually applied based on the clinical and radiological findings because of the risk of the aggressive diagnostic procedures such as open lung biopsy. However, recent advancements in operative procedures and perioperative management has decreased the procedure-related risks. We have prospectively analyzed the risks and benefits of the early application of open lung biopsy in such patients. Material and Method: Forty-two consecutive immunocompromised patients with critical pulmonary complications were included from June, 1996 to December, 1999. The definition of the immunocompromised is as those with chemotherapy and/or other modality for hematologic disorders, with usage of immunosuppressive drug after transplantation, with usage of steroid for more than 1 month, and with primary immunodeficiency disorders. The indication of open lung biopsy was those with no significant improvement after a week of aggressive application of empirical treatment or with rapidly aggressive process. The underlying disease included hematologic disorder(31 patients), post-transplantation(3 patients), chemotherapy for solid tumor(2 patients), and others(6 patients). Operations were done through thoracotomy(conventional or mini-) or VATS.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2014

Herpes zoster (HZ) is an acute, unilateral inflammatory viral infection characterized by a rash with painful blisters in a localized area of the body. HZ is often associated with intense pain in the acute phase and presents postherpetic neuralgia in the chronic phase. During the prodromal stage of the HZ from the trigeminal nerve, however, the only presenting symptom may be odontalgia, which could be particularly difficult to diagnose. This distinctive syndrome occurs predominantly in the immunocompromised or elderly individuals. In this article, we report a case of HZ developed in the trigeminal nerve of a 60-year-old immunocompromised female patient, whose symptoms including atypical, non-odontogenic odontalgia had improved after series of antiviral treatments.

• The Korean Journal of Medicine
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• v.99 no.4
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• pp.180-188
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• 2024

Herpes zoster (HZ) affects about one in three persons in their life time. Compared with the general population, older adults with immune senescence and individuals who are immunocompromised therapy are at increased risk for HZ, and its debilitating complications. To prevent HZ, two HZ vaccines, zoster vaccine live (ZVL) and recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) are available. RZV is The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases revised guidelines for HZ vaccine in 2023, and recommended to vaccinate with RZV for adults ≥ aged 50 years and for severely immunocompromised adults aged ≥ 18 years. RZV is more effective for prevention of HZ than ZVL. RZV is nonreplicating and is thus safe in immunocompromised patients. RZV has clinically acceptable safety profile. This review will help clinicians update knowledge about RZV and identify eligible subjects who may benefit from HZ vaccinations.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.481-492
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• 2024

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and imaging characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection in hospitalized immunocompromised patients in comparison with immunocompetent patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed consecutive adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19 who received at least one dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine at two academic medical centers between June 2021 and December 2022. Immunocompromised patients (with active solid organ cancer, active hematologic cancer, active immune-mediated inflammatory disease, status post solid organ transplantation, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome) were compared with immunocompetent patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of immune status on severe clinical outcomes (in-hospital death, mechanical ventilation, or intensive care unit admission), severe radiologic pneumonia (≥ 25% of lung involvement), and typical CT pneumonia. Results: Of 2218 patients (mean age, 69.5 ± 16.1 years), 274 (12.4%), and 1944 (87.6%) were immunocompromised an immunocompetent, respectively. Patients with active solid organ cancer and patients status post solid organ transplantation had significantly higher risks for severe clinical outcomes (adjusted odds ratio = 1.58 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.01-2.47], P = 0.042; and 3.12 [95% CI, 1.47-6.60], P = 0.003, respectively). Patient status post solid organ transplantation and patients with active hematologic cancer were associated with increased risks for severe pneumonia based on chest radiographs (2.96 [95% CI, 1.54-5.67], P = 0.001; and 2.87 [95% CI, 1.50-5.49], P = 0.001, respectively) and for typical CT pneumonia (9.03 [95% CI, 2.49-32.66], P < 0.001; and 4.18 [95% CI, 1.70-10.25], P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Immunocompromised patients with COVID-19 breakthrough infection showed an increased risk of severe clinical outcome, severe pneumonia based on chest radiographs, and typical CT pneumonia. In particular, patients status post solid organ transplantation was specifically found to be associated with a higher risk of all three outcomes than hospitalized immunocompetent patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.45-47
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• 2008

Fungal infections of the spine are relatively uncommon. Moreover, cervical spondylodiscitis due to Candida albicans in non-immunocompromised patient is very rare. We report a case of Candida spondylodiscitis in a 64-year-old woman who complained of neck pain. The clinical feature and treatment option are presented with a review of pertinent literatures.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.93-96
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• 2016

Toxoplasmosis, a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, occurs throughout the world. Human T. gondii infection is asymptomatic in 80% of the population; however, the infection is life-threatening and causes substantial neurologic damage in immunocompromised patients such as HIV-infected persons. The major purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in subjects infected with HIV/AIDS in eastern China. Our findings showed 9.7% prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody in HIV/AIDS patients, which was higher than in intravenous drug users (2.2%) and healthy controls (4.7%), while no significant difference was observed in the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibody among all participants (P>0.05). Among all HIV/AIDS patients, 15 men (7.7%) and 10 women (15.9%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibody; however, no significant difference was detected in the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody between males and females. The frequency of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody was 8.0%, 13.2%, 5.5%, and 0% in patients with normal immune function ($CD4^+$ T-lymphocyte count ${\geq}500cells/ml$), immunocompromised patients (cell count ${\geq}200$ and <500 cells/ml), severely immunocompromised patients (cell count ${\geq}50$ and <200 cells/ml), and advanced AIDS patients, respectively (cell count <50 cells/ml), while only 3 immunocompromised patients were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibody. The results indicate a high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in HIV/AIDS patients in eastern China, and a preventive therapy for toxoplasmosis may be given to HIV/AIDS patients based on $CD4^+$ T lymphocyte count.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.132-140
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• 2020

In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a well-known opportunistic infection and its management has been established. However, PCP is an emerging threat to immunocompromised patients without HIV infection, such as those receiving novel immunosuppressive therapeutics for malignancy, organ transplantation, or connective tissue diseases. Clinical manifestations of PCP are quite different between patients with and without HIV infections. In patients without HIV infection, PCP rapidly progresses, is difficult to diagnose correctly, and causes severe respiratory failure with a poor prognosis. High-resolution computed tomography findings are different between PCP patients with HIV infection and those without. These differences in clinical and radiological features are due to severe or dysregulated inflammatory responses that are evoked by a relatively small number of Pneumocystis organisms in patients without HIV infection. In recent years, the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction and serum β-D-glucan assay for rapid and non-invasive diagnosis of PCP has been revealed. Although corticosteroid adjunctive to anti-Pneumocystis agents has been shown to be beneficial in some populations, the optimal dose and duration remain to be determined. Recent investigations revealed that Pneumocystis colonization is prevalent and that asymptomatic carriers are at risk for developing PCP and can serve as the reservoir for the spread of Pneumocystis by airborne transmission. These findings suggest the need for chemoprophylaxis in immunocompromised patients as well as infection control measures, although the indications remain controversial. Because a variety of novel immunosuppressive therapeutics have been emerging in medical practice, further innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of PCP are needed.