A Case of Steroid-Responsive Severe Pneumonia Following a Recent COVID-19 Infection in a Patient With Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated With Streptococcal Infection

Pourshahid S, Khademolhosseini S, Giri B, et al. (July 12, 2022) A Case of Steroid-Responsive Severe Pneumonia Following a Recent COVID-19 Infection in a Patient With Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated With Streptococcal Infection. Cureus 14(7): e26785. doi:10.7759/cureus.26785

“Drug-induced pneumonitis was a possibility as well; however, she was only taking rituximab and cetirizine. Rituximab is a potential agent for the treatment of pneumonitis refractory to conventional treatments [25]. Although there are a few reported cases of rituximab-induced pneumonitis [26], the three-month delay after the last injection of rituximab and rapid progression in a few days are not consistent with drug-induced pneumonitis.

It is conceivable that her recent COVID-19 infection may have activated an exaggerated inflammatory response as the immunosuppression related to rituximab was subsiding. The rapidly progressing pulmonary consolidations and worsening respiratory symptoms under these circumstances should prompt the clinician to consider steroid-responsive-pneumonia like post-COVID OP, MISA, and IRIS-like reactions. Rapid institution of high-dose steroids seems to be the key to treatment. Whether her history of PANDAS may have further impacted her immune system, making her more prone to this exaggerated response is unclear.”

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