Steroid therapy for bronchopneumonia in chronic granulomatous disease

In general, immunosuppressive agents such as corticosteroids are considered to be a contraindication for immunocompromised hosts with an active infection. Recently, however, a few cases have been reported where the obstructive lesions caused by the excessive inflammation in chronic granulomatous disease were successfully resolved with corticosteroids, resulting in a remission of the infection. As we have also experienced a case in which oral corticosteroid used in combination with antibiotics had a beneficial effect on an intractable respiratory tract infection which occurred in a patient with chronic granulomatous disease, we present the case report. Although it may be very difficult to determine the candidates, we consider that in selected cases a corticosteroid therapy with concomitant use of antibiotics will be a choice for the treatment of intractable infections in chronic granulomatous disease.