Abstract

CANAS A., Alejandra et al. Colonization by Pneumocystis jirovecii in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Univ. Med. [online]. 2018, vol.59, n.3, pp.59-70. ISSN 0041-9095.  https://doi.org/10.11144/javeriana.umed59-3.pneu.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent disease in our population, which characteristically has a progressive deterioration and alters the quality of life of patients. Only 15-20% of patients with a history of smoking develop the disease, so there are additional environmental and genetic factors that influence the progression of the disease. Of the infectious causes that have taken importance is Pneumocystis jirovecii, this is a ubiquitous fungus that comes into contact with the airway of humans since childhood and is a cause of pneumonia in immunosuppressed patients. In addition, high rates of colonization have been reported in patients with COPD, which increase with the severity of the disease. COPD and P. jirovecii infection appear to share a similar immune response, which may explain the role of fungal colonization in the progression and severity of the disease.

Keywords : Pneumocystis jirovecii; pulmonary disease chronic obstructive; immunology.

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