Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome after intestinal transplantation

Abstract: Strongyloides stercoralis is a helminth with the ability to autoinfect the human host and persist asymptomatically for several years. Immunosuppression can accelerate autoinfection and result in Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome (SHS), which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipients, particularly in the setting of rejection, are at increased risk for reactivation of latent infections, such as Strongyloides . We describe a case of SHS in an intestinal transplant recipient; we hypothesize that she acquired the infection from the donor. We also review the current literature and address both prophylaxis and treatment of strongyloidiasis in the solid organ transplant patient.     

Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection in systemic lupus erythematosus and the antiphospholipid syndrome

OBJECTIVE: The Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection syndrome (SHS) may develop in individuals with asymptomatic infection receiving immunosuppressive treatment. This report summarizes current knowledge regarding SHS in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and associated antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). METHODS: Two patients with active SLE and associated APS presenting with SHS are reported. Additional cases of strongyloidiasis in SLE were identified and reviewed. RESULTS: Patient 1: A 34-year-old woman with SLE and APS characterized by active glomerulonephritis, stroke, and several hospital-acquired infections presented with vomiting and diffuse abdominal pain. Intestinal vasculitis was suspected, and treatment with methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide was given. Response was partial. A gastric biopsy revealed S. stercoralis larvae. She received ivermectin and eventually recovered. Patient 2: A 37-year-old man with active glomerulonephritis and APS with recurrent thrombosis presented with digital necrosis. Necrotizing vasculitis was suspected and treated with immunosupressants. He suddenly developed respiratory failure secondary to alveolar hemorrhage and bronchoalveolar lavage was performed. The patient developed Gram-negative septic shock and died. The postmortem result of bronchoalveolar lavage yielded Strongyloides larvae. Nine cases of strongyloidiasis and the SHS in SLE patients reported in the literature were identified and reviewed. Five of these patients died; none had associated APS. CONCLUSIONS: These cases suggest that the SHS can exacerbate SLE and APS, predisposing to Gram-negative sepsis and death. Immunocompromised patients need an early diagnosis and specific treatment of parasitic diseases and their complications. The SHS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lupus complications in patients from endemic areas.     

Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection syndrome after liver transplantation: case report and literature review

Abstract: Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode that causes human infections and whose life cycle has special features, including autoinfection. Strongyloides infection may be asymptomatic for years, owing to a low parasite load. During immunosuppressive therapy, however, if cellular immunity is depressed, autoinfection can occur at a higher rate, resulting in hyperinfection syndrome. In this specific circumstance, it can become a fatal illness. We describe a case of hyperinfection syndrome in a liver transplant recipient and also review the literature.     

Fatal Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome in an immunocompetent adult with review of the literature

Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome is rarely described in immunocompetent individuals. We present a case of fatal Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome, and a literature review identifying nine other cases occurring in immunocompetent individuals, highlighting the challenges of diagnosis and treatment in this setting. While overall mortality is lower compared to immunocompromised patients, fatal outcomes still occur. A high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis and treatment.     

Endoscopic and histopathological study on the duodenum of Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection

AIM： To investigate endoscopic and histopathological findings in the duodenum of patients with Strongyloides stercoralis （S. stercoralis） hyperinfection. METHODS： Over a period of 23 years （1984-2006）, we investigated 25 patients with S. stercoralis hyperinfection who had had an esophagogastroduodenoscopy before undergoing treatment for strongyloidiasis. The clinical and endoscopic findings were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS： Twenty-four （96%） of the patients investigated were under immunocompromised condition which was mainly due to a human T lymphotropic virus type 1 （HTLV-1） infection. The abnormal endoscopic findings, mainly edematous mucosa, white villi and erythematous mucosa, were observed in 23 （92%） patients. The degree of duodenitis including villous atrophy/destruction and inflammatory cell infiltration corresponded to the severity of the endoscopic findings. The histopathologic yield for identifying larvae was 71.4% by duodenal biopsy. The endoscopic findings of duodenitis were more severe in patients whose biopsies were positive for larvae than those whose biopsies were negative （Endoscopic severity score： 4.86 ± 2.47 vs 2.71 ±1.38, P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Our study clearly demonstrates that, in addition to stool analysis, endoscopic observation and biopsies are very important. We also emphasize that S. stercoralis and HTLV-1 infections should be ruled out before immunosuppressive therapy is administered in endemic regions.     

粪类圆线虫及粪类圆线虫病研究概况

粪类圆线虫是一种机会性致病寄生线虫,幼虫可侵入肺、脑、肝、肾等组织器官引起粪类圆线虫病。随着居民生活水平的提高、生活方式的改变、饲养宠物的家庭日益增多,导致粪类圆线虫病的感染机会增加。迄今为止国内有关粪类圆线虫病的研究多局限在病例报告和流行病学调查,而其生物学特性、免疫现象及免疫保护等方面的研究涉及甚少。本文对粪类圆线虫的形态学、生活史、致病性、流行病学、免疫学、实验诊断及防治进行了综述。     

Detection and treatment of Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome following lung transplantation

Abstract: Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome has not been reported in lung transplant recipients. We describe the case of a 61-year-old Peruvian man, who received bilateral lung transplants for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and subsequently developed persistent fever with pulmonary infiltrates, ventilator dependence, and pneumothoraces. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cultures for bacteria, viruses, and fungi were negative, but testing for ova and parasites from BAL fluid revealed Strongyloides stercoralis larvae on day 16 post transplant. He was successfully treated with albendazole and ivermectin, and immunosuppression was reduced. BAL fluid also grew Mycobacterium kansasii , for which he received combination anti-mycobacterial therapy. This case illustrates the importance of screening for parasitic infections before transplantation in the appropriate clinical setting, and demonstrates the utility of direct diagnostic evaluation for parasitic infections in at-risk post-transplant patients with unexplained illnesses.     

吸毒者感染粪类圆线虫1例报告

本文报道了吸毒者感染粪类圆线虫1例，用肠虫清按常规治疗，治愈。     

Strongyloides stercoralis larvae or egg: Which came first?

Strongyloides stercoralis (SS) hyperinfection is a well‐documented condition. However, SS eggs in stool samples are not commonly observed during routine analysis. Here, we report a case on SS hyperinfection where both larvae and eggs were observed in the stool sample of an immunossupressed liver allograft transplanted patient.     

慢性淋巴细胞白血病的造血干细胞移植治疗

慢性淋巴细胞白血病（CLL）存在很大的临床异质性。尽管免疫化疗方案的进步带来了显著的疗效,部分患者仍可在短期内发生疾病进展,或处于疾病难治耐药的状态。由于移植物抗CLL效应的存在,异基因造血干细胞移植的根治性意义获得肯定。年轻CLL患者如具有高危因素,包括：嘌呤类似物耐药或治疗后早期复发,以及具有17p（TP53位点）缺失和TP53突变,异基因造血干细胞移植是合理的治疗选择。减低强度的预处理方案有效降低了患者的治疗相关死亡率。     

Strongyloides hyperinfection following hematopoietic stem cell transplant in a patient with HTLV‐1‐associated T‐cell leukemia

Strongyloides stercoralis has the potential to cause accelerated autoinfection in immunocompromised hosts. Screening tests for strongyloidiasis may be falsely negative in the setting of immunosuppression. We report a case of Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome in a patient with human T‐lymphotropic virus type 1‐associated T‐cell leukemia early after hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The diagnosis was made by stool ova and parasite examination, despite a negative screening enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Because of anticipated prolonged neutropenia, an extended course of treatment was utilized.     

Ganciclovir预防异基因造血干细胞移植后巨细胞病毒感染

目的 :评价Ganciclovir在异基因造血干细胞移植 (allo HSCT)后预防巨细胞病毒 (CMV)感染的效果。方法 :观察allo HSCT患者 46例 ,全部病例均系移植前受者和 (或 )供者的CMV IgG阳性 ,分为预防组 2 4例 ,对照组 2 2例。allo HSCT后当患者血中性粒细胞 >1.0× 10 9/L时 ,预防组开始用GCV 10mg·kg-1·d-1,分两次静滴 ,连续 5d ;然后改为 5mg·kg-1·d-1,每周用 5d ,直至 +10 0d。对照组未预防性使用GCV。结果 :在 +10 0d内 ,预防组和对照组的CMV感染率分别为 8% (2 / 2 4)、32 % (7/ 2 2 ) ,P <0 .0 5 ;CMV病发病率分别为 0 %、18% (4 / 2 2 ) ,P <0 .0 5。两组患者在 +10 0d和 +180d内的死亡率分别为 4% (1/ 2 4)和 5 % (1/ 2 2 ) ,P >0 .0 5 ;12 .5 % (3/ 2 4)和 9% (2 / 2 2 ) ,P >0 .0 5。预防组的死因分别为并发细菌和真菌感染、CMV间质性肺炎或原发病复发 ;对照组的死因均是CMV间质性肺炎。结论 :allo HSCT后预防性使用GCV能明显抑制CMV感染 ,减少CMV病发病率。GCV的主要毒副作用是导致中性粒细胞减少 ,使患者继发感染甚至死亡的机率增加。GCV预防性使用的最佳剂量、用药方案及持续时间均有待进一步探讨     

Persistence of recipient-type endothelium after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Background

The possibility that allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation performed across the ABO blood group-barrier is associated with an increase of graft-versus-host disease, in particular endothelial damage, has not been elucidated so far. For this reason, we investigated the level of endothelial cell chimerism after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in order to delineate the role of hematopoietic stem cells in endothelial replacement.

Design and Methods

The frequency of donor-derived endothelial cells was analyzed in 52 hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, in 22 normal skin biopsies, in 12 skin samples affected by graft-versus-host disease, various tissues from five autopsies and four secondary solid tumors by ABH immunohistochemistry, XY fluorescence in situ hybridization and short tandem repeat analysis of laser captured endothelial cells.

Results

Skin biopsies from two patients transplanted with minor ABO-incompatible grafts (i.e. O in A) showed 3.3% and 0.9% H antigen-positive donor-derived endothelial cells by ABH immunohistochemistry. Tumor biopsies from two recipients showed 1.2% and 2.5% donor-derived endothelial cells by combined immunohistochemistry/ fluorescence in situ hybridization. All other skin samples, heart, liver, bone-marrow, and tumor tissues failed to reveal donor-type endothelial cells up to several years after ABO-incompatible hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Conclusions

Endothelial cell replacement by bone marrow-derived donor cells after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a rare event. It does not seem to represent a major mechanism of physiological in vivo blood vessel formation, tumor neoangiogenesis, vascular repair after graft-versus-host disease episodes or acceptance of ABO-incompatible grafts.     

异基因造血干细胞移植治疗白血病的研究进展

异基因造血干细胞移植是目前治疗白血病最有效的一种手段。移植的适应证及疗效因白血病的类型不同而有所差异;预处理方案的选择根据患者具体病情而定;移植相关并发症主要为感染、移植物抗宿主病、肝静脉闭塞病。该文对异基因造血干细胞移植治疗白血病的研究进展进行综述。     

同基因造血干细胞移植治疗白血病的临床疗效观察

目的探讨同基因造血干细胞移植(syn-HSCT)治疗白血病的临床效果。方法观察1996年1月至2008年8月中山大学附属第一医院血液科收治的7例syn-HSCT治疗白血病患者的造血重建情况、远期疗效及移植相关并发症,以108例异基因全相合造血干细胞移植(allo-HSCT)、50例自体造血干细胞移植(auto-HSCT)为对照。结果采用syn-HSCT、allo-HSCT和auto-HSCT治疗的3组患者中性粒细胞≥0.5×109/L的时间分别为(13.5±3.1)d、(14.6±4.5)d和(12.9±4.1)d,血小板≥20×109/L的时间分别为(18.7±7.3)d、(21.2±5.1)d和(25.3±9.4)d,3组之间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);syn-HSCT组和allo-HSCT组比较,5年无病存活(DFS)率、总存活(OS)率及复发率比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05),但这两组与auto-HSCT组比较,在5年DFS、OS及复发率方面差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);与allo-HSCT比较,syn-HSCT与auto-HSCT都具有较低的移植相关并发症和移植相关病死率。结论syn-HSCT具有存活率高、复发率低、移植相关并发症及病死率少的优点,可作为治疗白血病的有效方法。     

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造血干细胞移植(HSCT)是目前惟一能治愈先天性溶血性贫血(如重型地中海贫血和鐮状细胞贫血)的治疗方法。HLA相合同胞供者移植治疗儿童患者的总生存(OS)率超过90%,无事件生存(EFS)率超过80%。无关供者移植使更多无HLA相合同胞供者的患者获得移植机会。     

Varicella zoster virus meningoencephalitis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Although the reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a common complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), VZV meningoencephalitis is a rare life‐threatening infectious disease after HSCT. We describe here a patient who developed VZV meningoencephalitis 2 years after human leukocyte antigen‐matched unrelated HSCT for acute myeloblastic leukemia. She developed chronic graft‐versus‐host disease, and cyclosporine (CSA) was continued until 17 months after HSCT. Low‐dose acyclovir (ACV) at 200 mg/day was administered to prevent the reactivation of VZV from day ?7 to the termination of CSA. At 22 months, she suddenly developed fever, loss of consciousness, and seizure, with generalized skin rash. A high level of VZV DNA was detected in her cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). She was diagnosed to have VZV meningoencephalitis. Intravenous ACV at 30 mg/kg/day was given for 2 months. Although loss of consciousness was quickly resolved, some neurologic symptoms persisted. She did not have any known risk factors for VZV reactivation. Therefore, we should keep in mind that any HSCT recipient may develop VZV meningoencephalitis, and examination of CSF for VZV infection with an empiric administration of ACV may be recommended for HSCT recipients with central nervous system symptoms, even in the absence of skin manifestations.     

Strongyloides stercoralis: risks posed to immigrant patients in an Australian tertiary referral centre

Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is a nematode human parasite with a global prevalence that is able to maintain a prolonged infestation by means of its autoinfective life cycle. Immunosuppression may result in a life‐threatening hyperinfection syndrome. Recent changes in migration have resulted in the arrival of many immigrants from endemic areas. As to whether physicians are alert to the risks of strongyloidiasis in these patient groups is unclear. The aim of the study was to assess the risks posed by chronic strongyloidiasis in patients presenting to a tertiary referral centre and the need for screening of immigrant patients before immunosuppression. Methods: The study comprised a retrospective review of cases of strongyloidiasis presenting to the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. Thirty‐three cases were diagnosed by either positive serology or faecal microscopy between January 1998 and January 2005. The medical records for 29 cases were examined with regard to demographics, clinical features and complications. Results: Two major groups were identified: immigrants (17) and returned travellers (11). Six immigrants, but no returned traveller, developed a hyperinfective syndrome. Five immigrants received immunosuppressive therapies before developing symptoms of hyperinfection and this was complicated by life‐threatening sepsis in two patients. Diagnosis was frequently delayed in the immigrant group who were significantly more likely to present with respiratory symptoms. Four immigrants and two returned travellers were treated with corticosteroids for symptoms that were probably related to larval migration. Conclusion: Before giving immunosuppressive therapies, patients with a history of potential exposure must be investigated for strongyloidiasis and consideration given to empirical treatment.