Severe Pneumonia in Renal Transplant Patients

Eight episodes of life-threatening pneumonia occurred within 6 months after transplantation in seven renal allograft recipients. Most episodes followed closely a period of increased immunosuppression with large doses of prednisone. Immunosuppressive therapy was essentially discontinued in each case, and, with aggressive comprehensive management, the patient recovered in seven of the eight episodes. One patient died from disseminated aspergillosis and pulmonary embolism. Although renal function deteriorated during the acute illness in five patients, it returned to normal in four who survived.