Glomerular Diseases and Renal Transplantation: Pathogenic Pathways and Evolution of Therapeutic Interventions

Glomerular diseases and renal transplantation are the main fields of nephrology in which the immune system plays a prevalent role. Glomerular diseases have traditionally been attributed to auto-immune conditions, whereas allograft rejection has been considered an allo-immune response. However, common immunopathologic mechanisms that include Toll-like receptors, complement and B-cell activation, as well as genetic and infectious factors appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of both entities. Novel therapeutic regimens directed against specific targets of the immune system show promising results in glomerulopathies as well as in renal transplantation.     

Trichoblastoma Cutis in a Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report

Trichoblastoma is rare, benign skin neoplasm that may be difficult to distinguish from malignant baso-cellular skin cancer. Renal transplant recipients are at increased risk for development of skin malignancies. Resection and histopathological evaluation of a suspicious lesion is mandatory to determine malignant skin changes. We present the first reported case of trichoblastoma in a renal transplant recipient. Proper diagnosis enables less aggressive resection and maintenance of the same immunosuppressive protocol.     

Blastomyces dermatitidis in a Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report

Fungal infections have an important role in organ transplant recipients, and in some cases can be lethal. Blastomycosis is rare in kidney transplantation. We present a case of cutaneous blastomycosis in a kidney transplant recipient in Tunisia, a country outside the known endemic countries. This case, with the very uncommon and unexpected diagnosis of blastomycosis, demonstrates the diversity of infections in transplant recipients and reflects the importance of histologic and serologic tests in the immunocompromised patient.     

Liver Transplantation for Wilson's Disease in Non-adult Patients: A Systematic Review

Introduction

Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder transmitted through a gene located on chromosome 13. Liver transplantation (LT) provides a therapeutic option for patients with WD presenting fulminant liver failure or drug resistance. LT in patients with WD has a twofold aim: to save the patient's life when the disorder has progressed to hepatic (or other organ) failure and to cure the underlying metabolic defect. The aim of our study was to investigate the indications, aspects and post-operative outcomes in pediatric patients (<?18 years old) with WD who underwent LT.

Acquired Acrodermatitis Enteropathica Syndrome in a Kidney Transplant Recipient: A Case Report

Acrodermatitis enteropathica syndrome (AE) is a clinical entity that results in severe zinc deficiency. It can be genetic or acquired. Acquired AE has been reported in patients with chronic liver disease, malabsorption syndrome, sickle cell anemia, and chronic renal failure. We present a kidney transplant recipient with skin rash and watery diarrhea. The patient had low serum zinc levels, which quickly resolved after zinc supplementation. Skin biopsy showed cytoplasmic pallor and vacuolization and ballooning degeneration of keratinocytes within the superficial epidermis, which may have led to confluent necrosis of keratinocytes. Large amounts of keratinosome-derived lamellae were found in the intercellular spaces in the keratinized area, probably related to disturbance of keratinosome metabolism due to zinc deficiency.     

Pregnancy Outcomes After Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review

Purpose

Liver transplantation (LT) constitutes a major therapeutic option for a number of patients suffering from liver pathologies. Pregnancy outcomes in patients who have undergone LT are assessed by a number of studies. The aim of our systematic review was to present the currently available evidence concerning the results of pregnancy in patients with LT.

Trough Levels of Everolimus Are Associated With Recurrence Rates of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Liver Transplantation

Purpose

Everolimus, a mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor, may have a protective role on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT), but data regarding the impact of its trough serum levels on HCC recurrence are missing.

Liver Transplantation for Giant Hepatic Hemangioma: A Systematic Review

Introduction

Despite their benign nature, liver hemangiomas (LH) are lesions that can cause major complications requiring intervention. Liver transplantation (LT) has been suggested as an effective treatment option in selected patients with giant LHs causing severe symptoms and cannot be treated otherwise. The aim of our study was to investigate the indications, aspects and post-operative outcomes of patients with a LH who underwent LT.

Severe Gastric Mycormycosis Infection Followed by Cytomegalovirus Pneumonia in a Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report and Concise Review of the Literature

Mucormycosis is an uncommonly encountered fungal infection in solid-organ transplantation, occurring most often gastrointestinally. The most common and fatal infectious disease is cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia, which may result in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), with rapid onset. Early diagnosis, active treatment, and rational reduction of immunosuppressants are crucial for successful kidney transplantation. We performed successful treatment for both mucormycosis and CMV pneumonia and adjusted the tacrolimus dose accordingly. The case we describe was that of a 47-year-old woman with history of renal transplantation 1 month earlier. She presented with chest pain and gastrointestinal bleeding and was diagnosed with gastric mucormycosis and a secondary episode of hospital-acquired pneumonia. Preemptive therapy, which included liposomal amphotericin B and posaconazole, was adminstered when voriconazole proved to be unhelpful and before histologic reports of gastric mucormycosis. Moreover, CMV re-activation was confirmed by CMV antibody detection, and we administered gancyclovir and thymosin α1 but reduced the strength of the immunosuppressive drugs. Fourteen days after the aforementioned therapy, the patient began to recover and she was discharged on day 81 postoperatively. We conclude that preemptive treatment is critical for severe infection in renal transplant recipients, especially with the rarely seen gastric mucormycosis and with ARDS. In addition, immunoregulated agents, such as asthymosin α1, are also of great value in renal transplant recipients in the setting of opportunistic pathogen infections.     

Contamination of the Preservation Solution in Solid Organ Transplantation

Introduction

Preservation solutions (PS), in which grafts for patients undergoing liver transplantation are stored, represent a medium suitable for microorganism growth and a potential source for transmission of pathogenic germs to the transplant recipients. The aim of the present study was to review the relevant literature for the incidence and predictors of positive microbiological findings in the PS.

Case Report of Salmonella gallinarum Urinary Tract Infection in a Renal Allograft Recipient

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by nontyphoidal Salmonella in a renal allograft recipient are a rare occurrence. Although there is some existing literature on Salmonella typhi bacteriuria and non-typhoidal bacteriuria, none of the cases has been reported in a renal transplant patient. This case report describes a rare instance in which group D Salmonella was isolated from a renal allograft recipient's urine culture and the patient was successfully treated with antibiotics.     

Case Report: Spontaneous Hemorrhage of a Rare Renal Tumor in the Native Kidney of a Renal Transplant Recipient

Renal cancers are some of the most common solid organ malignancies found during follow-up of patients who have undergone renal transplantation (RT). In this case report, we describe a life-threatening spontaneous hemorrhage of a rare subtype of renal cell carcinoma in the native kidney of a 27-year-old man, 4 years after RT. After fluid resuscitation and stabilization, the patient underwent emergent open radical nephrectomy with the final histopathology reporting T1bN0Mx mucinous tubular and spindle cell (MTSC) carcinoma. This case report highlights the need to consider an underlying malignancy in patients who presents with spontaneous hemorrhage of native kidneys after RT.     

Mucormycosis Presented with Facial Pain in a Renal Transplant Patient: A Case Report

IntroductionMucormycosis is a severe infection in renal transplant recipients. Here, we report a case of maxillary sinus mucormycosis in a patient who presented with a facial pain complaint.CaseA 51-year-old female patient with renal transplantation due to autosomal dominant, polycystic kidney disease and diabetic nephropathy was admitted to our hospital with facial pain and minimal edema of the left half of her face on the 8th month of transplantation. On physical examination, there was only tenderness and slight edema on the left half of the face. On the paranasal computed tomography, extensive soft tissue densities involving septations, filling the left maxillary sinus, extending to the nasal cavity, and obliterating the left osteometeal unit were observed. Because facial pain was not relieved by antibiotics and several, potent analgesic drugs on the second day, mucormycosis infection with bone involvement was suspected. A left maxillary sinus excision was performed. Microscopic examination of the debridement specimen revealed necrotic bone interspersed with fungal hyphae, and culture isolated Rhizopus oryzae. Liposomal amphotericin B was started. The patient was on tacrolimus, prednisolone, and mycophenolate mofetil. Tacrolimus was switched to cyclosporine to regulate serum glucose levels. The left maxillary sinus was washed with liposomal amphoterin B daily and curetted with intervals. The patient started dialysis because of severe renal function loss. The patient was discharged on the 96th day of liposomal amphotericin B.ConclusionIt should be kept in mind that mucormycosis may be present in the sinuses even if there is no evidence for nasal, oral, and dental examination in renal transplant patients with facial pain.     

Late-Onset Allograft Aspergillosis in an HIV-Positive Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report

Aspergillus infection of the allograft in renal transplant patients is rare and associated with a high mortality. We report a case of a 21-year-old, human immunodeficiency virus–positive, deceased-donor kidney recipient who presented 1 year after transplant with oliguric kidney injury. A nuclear medicine renal scan revealed absence of flow to the transplanted kidney, and a urine fungal culture was positive for Aspergillus flavus. The diagnosis was confirmed with the presence of fungal hyphae along with thrombosis in the vascular structures in renal allograft pathology. We found no evidence of disseminated aspergillosis or involvement of any other organ in the patient. To our knowledge, this case is the first reported in the literature of late-onset non-disseminated renal-limited aspergillosis in a human immunodeficiency virus–positive renal transplant patient.     

Rhodococcus equi Pneumonia in Kidney Transplant Recipient Affected by Acute Intermittent Porphyria: A Case Report

Rhodococcus equi is a gram-positive coccobacillus responsible for severe infections in patients with weakened immune systems. R equi generally causes pnumonia that may evolve into fatal systemic infection if left untreated. Here, we present a case of a 67-year-old woman affected by acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) who developed R equi pneumonia 7 months after kidney transplantation. Although clinical features at presentation were nonspecific, lung computed tomography showed right perihilar consolidation with a mass-like appearance causing bronchial obstruction. Appropriate antibiotic including intravenous meropenem and oral azithromycin that was then switched to oral levofloxacin and oral azithromycin along with reduction of immunosuppressive therapy resolved pneumonia without provoking an acute attack of porphyria. AIP limited the choice of antibiotics for the treatment of R equi infection because some potentially porphyrinogenic antibacterial agents were avoided. Based on this experience, azithromycin and meropenem can be safely administered for the treatment of R Equi infection in patients with AIP.     

Comparison Between Salvage Liver Transplantation and Repeat Liver Resection for Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction

Repeat liver resection (RLR) has been adopted by surgeons as the first-line treatment in the case of intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), whereas salvage liver transplantation (SLT) is considered a second-line option. The aim of our study was to evaluate the results of SLT and RLR for HCC.

Kidney Transplant Recipient with Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH) Secondary to COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Case Report

BackgroundCurrently, COVID-19 is becoming one of the most common causes of viral pneumonia worldwide. In the medical literature, very few case reports describe the association between COVID-19 and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) in kidney transplant patients.MethodsA 74-year-old immunocompromised man post–kidney transplant presented with nonspecific symptoms consisting of fatigue, malaise, and anorexia. He was also found to have hyponatremia in the context of pulmonary insults. SIADH in the setting of COVID-19 pneumonia was diagnosed after exclusion of other causes of hyponatremia. He was treated for COVID-19 pneumonia with antiviral therapy, secondary bacterial infection prophylaxis, dexamethasone and ventilatory support in addition to modification of antirejection medications.ResultsThe patient has improved and his serum sodium normalized with management of primary insult.Conclusions. SIADH should be suspected in transplant patients with COVID-19 pneumonia once they develops hyponatremia. The decision of intravenous fluid administration should be taken carefully in these settings.     

Mixed Hepatocellular Cholangiocarcinoma: A Review of Long-Term Outcomes Following Liver Transplantation

Introduction

Mixed hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (HCC-CC) represents a rare hepatic tumor, which demonstrates histological features of both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC). HCC-CC can be an unexpected finding in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) for HCC. The objective of our review was to review and evaluate long-term outcomes in patients undergoing LT for mixed HCC-CC.

Successful Treatment of Strongyloides stercoralis Hyperinfection in a Kidney Transplant Recipient: Case Report

Strongyloides stercoralis (SS) can cause hyperinfection and disseminated infection in immunosuppressed individuals, with risk of mortality. We report the case of a cadaveric kidney transplant recipient who developed gastrointestinal symptoms and eosinophilia, approximately 3 months after transplantation. Stool examination and esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsies were positive for SS larvae. The patient was started on oral ivermectin and immunosuppression was reduced, but still the clinical picture got worse with metabolic ileus and respiratory symptoms, with the need for administration of subcutaneous ivermectin and combined therapy with albendazol. The patient survived and graft function was preserved. The patient was unlikely to be the source of infection. We also present a review of cases of SS infection in kidney transplant recipients.     

Condyloma Acuminata of the Urethra in a Male Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report

Background

Condyloma acuminatum (CA) is a common sexually transmitted disease associated with human papilloma virus (HPV). CA occurring in the urethra is rare and has not been reported in male renal transplant recipients. In addition, despite immunosuppressive conditions and increased risk of HPV-related malignant neoplasms in transplant recipients, HPV testing in male transplant recipients has been uncommon. Here we report a case of urethral CA in a male deceased donor renal transplantation recipient and discuss the importance of HPV testing in male transplant recipients.