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OBJECTIVES: Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) is a life-threatening opportunistic infection. Few PCP cases in giant cell arteritis (GCA) have been described, but it remains unknown, which patients need PCP prophylaxis.
METHODS: Sixty-two patients with GCA from a prospective cohort were studied to identify treatment-related predictors of PCP infection.
RESULTS: Four PCP infections occurred, all in patients treated with methotrexate in addition to prednisone. Moreover, PCP is associated with higher cumulative PDN doses and severe lymphocytopenia (<400/μl).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support PCP-prophylaxis in GCA patients who are treated with methotrexate and PDN, and need high prednisone doses to achieve remission, or develop severe lymphocytopenia.
