Acute renal failure due to leptospirosis in a renal transplant recipient: a brief review of the literature

We present the case of a 43-year-old renal transplant patient who presented with fever, malaise, pruritus, headache, and severe jaundice of 3-week duration following work in a rice field. He was found to have acute renal failure and severe hyperbilirubinemia with a positive serum leptospira antibody titer, making the diagnosis of Weil's disease. The patient responded to reduction in immunosuppressive medications and intravenous penicillin therapy with no need for dialysis. This is the second case of leptospirosis in a kidney transplant patient reported in the English literature.