Search

Infections continue to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after solid organ transplantation. Early identification of the pathogenic organism is extremely important as the disease process might progress rapidly resulting in fatality. In this case series, we describe varying presentations of pulmonary nocardiosis, an uncommon opportunistic bacterial infection that often complicates the diagnosis of pneumonia, especially in immunocompromised patients. Although cough, fever, expectoration and breathlessness are the most common symptoms of pulmonary nocardiosis, they can also manifest as night sweats, weight loss and malaise. Some are incidentally diagnosed while being evaluated for other causes. Radiological features are also non-specific, usual findings being irregular nodules, cavitation, reticulo nodular diffuse pneumonia and pleural effusions. Bronchoalveolar lavage has the best diagnostic yield, but may have to be repeated several times to confirm a diagnosis, if the index of suspicion is high. Initial therapy with high dose trimethoprim- sulfamethoxazole is found to be effective in most of the cases. Duration of treatment should be a minimum of 6 months, and at least 12 months if central nervous system is affected. Other agents used for treatment include imipenem, minocycline, third generation cephalosporins, linezolid and amikacin. A high index of suspicion, with aggressive evaluation in an immunosuppressed individual will enable an early diagnosis, leading to prompt treatment and limit dissemination of disease thus preventing fatality.

Background: Studies on posttransplantation anemia (PTA) are scarce. There is a large variability in its prevalence (20%–70%). Research focuses on anemia in early (3–6 months) or late (>6 months) posttransplant period. Little is known about PTA within first 3 months. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and possible associated factors of immediate PTA in patients undergoing renal transplant. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, observational, single-center study of 30 consecutive patients who underwent live renal allograft transplant. Follow-up period was 3-month posttransplant. Hemoglobin (Hb) was done at 1-week and 1, 2, and 3-month posttransplant. Erythropoietin (EPO) levels were recorded pre and posttransplant. Peripheral smear, lactate dehydrogenase, iron and ferritin levels, serum creatinine, days of hospital stay, rejections, infections, and immunosuppressive regime were recorded. Results: All patients were anemic within 1 week of transplantation and 40% had severe anemia. The prevalence of PTA at 3 months was 76.7%. PTA correlated with higher donor age, lower ferritin, Hb, and EPO levels in pretransplant period. However, even though EPO levels posttransplant were lower in patients with anemia, this correlation was not statistically significant. The lowest Hb correlated with Hb levels and dose of EPO-stimulating agents pretransplant. Conclusions: The prevalence of anemia is high in the immediate posttransplant period. High donor age, graft dysfunction, and iron stores before transplantation correlate with Hb levels at 3 months. It is prudent to maintain a better Hb in the pretransplant period to avoid PTA. Lower EPO levels before transplant may indicate immediate PTA. Correlation of EPO levels posttransplant with Hb needs further study.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is an infection observed in immunocompromised patients. The risk of infection depends on the intensity and duration of immunosuppression and underlying immune deficits. Prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prevents opportunistic infections due to Pneumocystis carinii, Toxoplasma gondii; in addition to preventing community acquired respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary tract infections. The usual presentation of P. carinii is during the first three to six months after transplantation at the peak of immunosuppressive therapy. We describe a case of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a renal transplant recipient 38 months after renal transplantation.

A 22-year girl, diagnosed to have primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in 2009, underwent live related donor renal transplantation in May 2011. Her immunosuppressive regimen included Tacrolimus, Mycophenolate Mofetil and Prednisolone. For next three months graft function remained normal. In August 2011 she developed massive proteinuria with mild graft dysfunction and graft biopsy showed recurrence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. She underwent nine sessions of plasmapheresis followed by two doses of Rituximab. She attained remission of proteinuria and normal graft function after treatment. She continues to be in remission at one year and six months.

Objectives: We aimed at creating a clinical profile of end-stage renal disease patients' gonadal function and assessing the impact of renal transplant on gonadal dysfunction. We studied the influence of age, vascular anastomosis, dialysis vintage, and immunosuppression on sexual dysfunction. Materials and Methods: Twenty adults were included. Hormones (luteinizing hormone [LH], follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], testosterone, prolactin (PRL), and estrogen), menstrual history and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 questionnaires were assessed before and after renal transplantation. Hormone evaluation was done by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay technology. Results: Seventeen patients were male and three patients were female. Native kidney diseases were chronic glomerulonephritis (10%), IgA nephropathy (20%), autosomal dominant polycyctic kidney disease (5%), diabetic nephropathy (5%), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (5%), renal calculus disease (5%), membranous nephropathy (5%), and pauci-immune vasculitis (5%). Fifteen males had erectile dysfunction (ED) before transplant. Eleven patients showed an increase and six patients showed a decrease in IIEF scores posttransplantation. Statistically significant changes were observed in the mean levels of testosterone, LH, PRL, and FSH. Age at transplant showed a negative correlation with IIEF score. In five patients with an end to side anastomosis to the external iliac artery, all had an increase in IIEF score posttransplant. In 12 patients with an end to end anastomosis to the internal iliac artery, 5 patients (42%) had a decrease in IIEF score posttransplant. Conclusions: Incidence of ED was 88% in our study. About 65% patients showed an increase in IIEF score posttransplantation. Increasing age at the time of transplant was a significant risk factor for the presence of ED. Renal transplantation corrected hormonal abnormalities in men. About 100% of patients with an end to side arterial anastomosis showed improvement in IIEF scores. There was no effect of dialysis vintage and immunosuppression regimes on sexual dysfunction.