Nutritional immunomodulation leads to enhanced allograft survival in combination with cyclosporine A and rapamycin, but not FK506

BACKGROUND: Recently, specific immunonutrients were found to increase experimental allograft survival when combined with cyclosporine A (CsA). This study compared the effect on rat cardiac allograft survival when nutritional immunomodulation was used with CsA, rapamycin (Rapa), or tacrolimus (FK506). METHODS: Intra-abdominal ACI to Lewis cardiac allografts were performed and assessed daily by palpation. Study groups included untreated controls and those receiving CsA, Rapa, or FK506. Rats were fed ad libitum with Impact diet (fortified with fish oil, arginine, and RNA) or standard rat food. Further study groups were transplanted that received a donor-specific transfusion in addition to immunosuppression and diet. RESULTS: Allograft survival was extended by combining Impact with CsA (45.3+/-19 days) and Rapa (165.3+/-52 days), but not FK506 (12.4+/-3.2 days). Mean graft survival in the Rapa/Impact group met criteria for functional tolerance. The addition of a donor-specific transfusion did not lead to graft survival advantages over similar groups not receiving a donor-specific transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: The use of immunonutrients improves transplant outcome in animals treated with short courses of CsA and Rapa, but not FK506. These findings highlight the potential differences in the effects of nutritional immunomodulation with different immunosuppressive drugs in the treatment of transplant patients.     

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and virilizing cortical adrenal tumor in a child

The authors report a case of a virilizing adrenal tumor that developed in a 2-year-old child with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS). He had a fetal diagnosis of omphalocele and a history of neonatal adrenal cysts. The importance of prenatal diagnosis of BWS and postnatal follow-up of tumors is discussed. The differential diagnosis of adrenal pathologies occurring in BWS also is reviewed.     

Leprosy in transplant recipients: report of a case after liver transplantation and review of the literature

M.A.B. Trindade, M. de Lourdes Palermo, C. Pagliari, N. Valente, B. Naafs, P.C.B. Massarollo, L.A.C. D'Albuquerque, G. Benard. Leprosy in transplant recipients: report of a case after liver transplantation and review of the literature.
Transpl Infect Dis 2011: 13: 63–69. All rights reserved Abstract: Leprosy still is an important public health problem in several parts of the world including Brazil. Unlike the diseases caused by other mycobacteria, the incidence and clinical presentation of leprosy seems little affected in immunosuppressed patients. We report the first case, to our knowledge, of a liver transplant patient who developed multi‐bacillary leprosy. The patient presented with papules and infiltrated plaques with loss of sensation suggestive of leprosy 3.5 years after living‐related liver transplantation for autoimmune hepatitis. A skin biopsy showing non‐caseating macrophagic granulomas, neuritis, and intact acid‐fast bacilli on Fite‐Faraco stain, confirmed the diagnosis of borderline lepromatous leprosy. The donor of the liver did not show any evidence of leprosy. During follow‐up, the patient presented 2 episodes of upgrading leprosy type I reactions, 1 mild before leprosy treatment, and 1 moderate 3 months after receiving standard multi‐drug treatment (rifampicin, clofazimine, and dapsone). These reactions were accompanied by increase in liver function tests, especially of canalicular enzymes. This reaction occurred despite the patient's triple immunosuppression regimen. The moderate reaction was successfully treated with further immunosuppression (prednisone, 0.5 mg/kg). Currently, the patient is asymptomatic, off leprosy medication, with routine liver transplant follow‐up. The dilemmas in diagnosis and management of such a case are discussed and the literature on leprosy in transplant recipients is reviewed.     

Cutaneous New World Leishmaniasis on a Port-wine stain birthmark

We present an interesting case report of two sarcoid-like lesions on a port-wine stain (PWS) birthmark in a Brazilian patient which on investigation proved to be cutaneous leishmaniasis.