Abstract
Background: Porto’s Hospital Centre is one of the most active Portuguese hospitals in renal transplantation (performed since 1983). Although increasingly rare, opportunistic infections in transplanted patients are associated with high mortality rate in kidney transplantation and remain a major diagnostic challenge. Methods: We investigated 2041 cases of hospital admissions (from 2004 to 2012), any time after kidney transplantation. We described the infection location, the diagnostic techniques used and the mortality after the infection. Results: We found 82 cases of opportunistic infection caused by Herpes virus (Zoster and simplex), Cytomegalovirus, Polyomavirus, Aspergilus, Alternaria, Mucorales, Candida, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Cryptococcus and Pneumocystis. Conclusions: In this article we highlight the important role of histology/cytology in the diagnostic process of these infections. In many cases prompt diagnosis and treatment are necessary to avoid life-threatening complications and may greatly improve prognosis.
Highlights
IntroductionKidney transplantation is acknowledged as a major advance of modern medicine, providing high-quality life years for patients with end-stage kidney disease [1]
Kidney transplantation is acknowledged as a major advance of modern medicine, providing high-quality life years for patients with end-stage kidney disease [1].Infections agents can often be recognized on the basis of the time interval from transplantation, they are still a common cause of morbidity and mortality after the transplant.A successful kidney transplant increases the lifespan, quality of life and it is more effective economically than long term dialysis therapy [2].The first month after transplantation is dominated by infections related to the surgical procedure, including urinary tract infection (Escherichia coli), line infection
Opportunistic infections in transplanted patients are associated with high mortality rate in kidney transplantation and remain a major diagnostic challenge
Summary
Kidney transplantation is acknowledged as a major advance of modern medicine, providing high-quality life years for patients with end-stage kidney disease [1]. Infections agents can often be recognized on the basis of the time interval from transplantation, they are still a common cause of morbidity and mortality after the transplant. A successful kidney transplant increases the lifespan, quality of life and it is more effective economically than long term dialysis therapy [2]. Opportunistic infections in transplanted patients are associated with high mortality rate in kidney transplantation and remain a major diagnostic challenge. Methods: We investigated 2041 cases of hospital admissions (from 2004 to 2012), any time after kidney transplantation. Results: We found 82 cases of opportunistic infection caused by Herpes virus (Zoster and simplex), Cytomegalovirus, Polyomavirus, Aspergilus, Alternaria, Mucorales, Candida, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Cryptococcus and Pneumocystis. In many cases prompt diagnosis and treatment are necessary to avoid life-threatening complications and may greatly improve prognosis
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