Brucellosis in a renal transplant recipient

Brucellosis is one of the most common systemic zoonotic diseases transmitted by consumption of unpasteurized dairy products or by occupational contact with infected animals. Brucellosis is rare in renal transplant recipients. Only 3 cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of brucellosis with hematologic and hepatobiliary complications in a patient 3 years after renal transplantation. The mean time from transplantation to the diagnosis of brucellosis in these 4 reported patients was 5.1 years (range 17 months to 13 years). All patients had fever and constitutional symptoms, and all attained clinical cure after combination antibiotic therapy. Given the small number of patients, further study is needed to identify the characteristics of brucellosis in renal transplant recipients. Drug interactions and acute renal failure developed in our patient during antibiotic treatment. Therefore, we should monitor the levels of immunosuppressive agents frequently. Several studies have shown in vitro susceptibilities of Brucella melitensis to tigecycline. In our patient, fever finally subsided after tigecycline administration. The minimum inhibitory concentration of tigecycline using Etest was 0.094 μg/mL. Tigecycline may be a potential option for treatment of brucellosis in the setting of transplantation.     

Malacoplakia in a renal transplant recipient

Malacoplakia is a rare, inflammatory condition characterized histologically by distinct histiocytes with pathognomonic inclusion calcospherules called Michaelis-Gutmann bodies. It most often affects the urinary tract of immunocompromised patients. We describe a case of renal allograft parenchymal malacoplakia in a transplant recipient. Moreover, we report the imaging and histological findings and review the literature of this rare disorder.     

Cerebral trypanosomiasis in a renal transplant recipient

Chagas disease is a lifelong, systemic, parasitic infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. The main form of disease transmission is vector borne, but vertical transmission, such as by organ transplantation from a chronically infected donor, is also possible. The brain tumor‐like form can occur years after infection and has been described in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and in a very few cases in transplant recipients. We describe the case of a kidney transplant patient who was human immunodeficiency virus negative and infected with T. cruzi, and developed cerebral trypanosomiasis that was successfully treated with benznidazole at 7 mg/kg/day for 60 days. The risk of Chagas disease transmission should not be underestimated in renal transplant patients, even in non‐endemic areas. Chagas disease can present as a tumor‐like brain lesion, very difficult to differentiate from other opportunistic infectious or neoplastic processes. Frequent monitoring for T. cruzi infection is essential to promptly implement treatment, which, in our patient, proved to be effective and safe.     

Whooping cough in a renal transplant recipient

Whooping cough is a respiratory infection with a severity that varies with age, immune status, and probably with other factors such as the degree of exposure and the virulence of the organism. The most frequent microorganism responsible for whooping cough is Bordetella pertussis. We present the case of a 62‐year‐old renal transplant recipient presenting with typical and severe manifestations of whooping cough caused by B. pertussis.     

Disseminated microsporidiosis in a renal transplant recipient

Abstract: Disseminated microsporidiosis is diagnosed uncommonly in patients not infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We present a case of disseminated microsporidiosis in a renal transplant recipient who was seronegative for HIV. Chromotrope-based stains were positive for microsporidia in urine, stools, sputum, and conjunctival scrapings. Electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, polymerase chain reaction, and cultures of renal tissue identified the organism as Encephalitozoon cuniculi . The patient was treated with oral albendazole and topical fumagillin with clinical improvement. In addition, she underwent a transplant nephrectomy and immunosuppressive therapy was withdrawn. Follow-up samples were negative for microsporidia. However, the patient developed central nervous system manifestations and died. An autopsy brain tissue specimen demonstrated E. cuniculi by immunofluorescent staining. Disseminated microsporidiosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of multiorgan involvement in renal allograft recipients.     

Listeriosis and recurrent abortion in a renal transplant recipient

A 29-year-old farmer's wife had received a kidney from her brother (of identical HLA type) at the age of 22 years. She was afterwards immunosuppressed with prednisolone and azathioprine. Her first pregnancy had been uneventful but the second and third had terminated spontaneously at 15 and 24 weeks gestation respectively. Following the third pregnancy, Listeria monocytogenes (serotype 4) was grown from the fetus, the placenta and maternal blood. Over the next 18 months, antibody titres which were assessed by an IgG indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay remained high. When the patient became pregnant for a fourth time, 9 months after her second abortion, 250 mg ampicillin were administered three times daily for the remaining duration of the pregnancy. A second child was successfully delivered by Caesarean section at 39 weeks' gestation.     

Multiple cavitating nodules in a renal transplant recipient

Pulmonary nodules are common following solid organ transplantation and vary in etiology. Nodules with central cavitation are most likely to be of infectious origin in the post-transplant population. A novel presentation of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder manifesting as multiple cavitating pulmonary nodules is described. The patient, a 45-year-old female renal transplant recipient, presented with constitutional symptoms and a chest x-ray showing multiple bilateral cavitating lesions. A computed tomography scan confirmed innumerable, randomly dispersed, cavitating nodules in the lung parenchyma. Multiple large hypodense lesions were identified in the liver and spleen. The appearance of the native and transplanted kidneys was normal. A liver biopsy identified an Epstein-Barr virus-negative, diffuse, large B cell lymphoma. Repeat imaging after treatment with a cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin, oncovin and prednisone/prednisolone regimen demonstrated dramatic resolution of all lesions. The present case represents a unique radiographic presentation of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder not previously reported in the literature.     

Tuberculous pyomyositis in a renal transplant recipient.

Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients. Although these patients are susceptible to many types of infection, soft tissue infections are rare. We report a case of tuberculous pyomyositis involving the left erector spinae muscle but with no other manifestations of tuberculosis. The diagnosis was suspected from the CT scan appearance and confirmed by microscopy and culture of the pus. Surgical incision and drainage, together with antituberculosis therapy, cured the infection. The relevant literature is briefly reviewed.     

Disseminated Trichosporon infection in a renal transplant recipient

Trichosporon species are basidiomycetous yeast‐like anamorphic organisms (Basidiomycota, Hymenomycetes, Tremelloidae, Trichosporonales) that are widely distributed in nature. Trichosporon species colonize the skin and gastrointestinal tract of humans. We present a report of disseminated Trichosporon in a renal allograft recipient. Our patient satisfied the definitions of both “proven invasive trichosporonosis” and “probable pulmonary infection.” Only 2 reports of disseminated Trichosporon infection in renal transplant recipients, to our knowledge, have been published.     

Fever and cavitary infiltrate in a renal transplant recipient

Aspergillus infection is a rare but devastating complication following organ transplantation with high mortality rate. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common cause of invasive aspergillosis. This fungus is present in the environment worldwide. Aspergillus infection is mainly acquired by inhalation of spores and several nosocomial infections in transplant recipient have been associated with construction work at hospitals. Risk factors for invasive aspergillosis include administration of steroid boluses, history of cytomegalovirus infection, neutropenia and prolonged antibiotic use after transplantation. Successful treatment depends on three factors: early diagnosis, aggressive antifungal therapy and decrease or removal of immunosuppression. Amphotericin deoxycholate has been the standard treatment for many years but lipid preparations for amphotericin are now used due to their significantly fewer adverse effects. A number of new antifungal drugs are now being developed including new azoles such as voriconazol and echinocandin. Invasive aspergillosis has a high mortality rate more than 95% when cerebral dissemination is demonstrated. We report the case of a 47 years old woman who received a cadaveric renal graft and developed pulmonary aspergillosis with fulminant cerebral dissemination two months later. The diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis was by culture isolation obtained from bronchioalveolar lavage. Removal of immunosuppresive agents and liposomal amphotericin B therapy were started shortly after admission. Brain CT scan performed on the 12th day showed cerebral dissemination. The recipient died two days later. Our patient had several risk factors such as the administration of steroid boluses and cytomegalovirus infection. Invasive aspergillosis must be always included in the differential diagnosis of fever and pulmonary disease in the renal transplant recipient.     

Subacute cytomegalovirus appendicitis in a renal transplant recipient

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in transplant patients is a well‐known disease. We describe the first case, to our knowledge, documenting CMV appendicitis in a renal transplant patient, and its clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment.