Donor-Derived Coccidioides immitis Endocarditis and Disseminated Infection in the Setting of Solid Organ Transplantation

Abstract Background. Endocarditis is a rare manifestation of infection with Coccidioides. This is the first reported case of donor-derived Coccidioides endocarditis obtained from a heart transplant. Methods. We present a unique case of donor-derived Coccidioides immitis endocarditis and disseminated infection in a heart transplant patient. We also conducted a review of the literature to identify other cases of donor-derived coccidioidomycosis in solid organ transplant recipients and reviewed their clinical characteristics. Results. Fifteen prior cases of donor-derived coccidioidomycosis were identified. A majority of these cases were diagnosed by positive culture (83%). Mortality was high at 58%. Conclusions. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for disseminated coccidioidomycosis in patients who received transplants with organs from donors with a history of residing in endemic regions.

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Coupled Plasma Filtration Adsorption in Patients with a History of Kidney Transplantation: Report of Two Cases

Blood Purification ◽

10.1159/000437042 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 218-222 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Quirino Lai ◽

Verdiana Di Pietro ◽

Samuele Iesari ◽

Sofia Amabili ◽

Linda De Luca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Septic Shock ◽

Graft Function ◽

Solid Organ Transplantation ◽

Organ Transplant ◽

Multiple Organ ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Kidney Transplant Recipients ◽

Limited Experience ◽

Plasma Filtration ◽

History Of

Coupled plasma filtration adsorption (CPFA) is an extracorporeal treatment based on plasma filtration associated with an adsorbent cartridge and hemofiltration. CPFA is able to remove inflammatory mediators and it has been used to treat severe sepsis, septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Limited experience exists on the use of CPFA after solid organ transplantation. We report our experience with CPFA in 2 kidney transplant recipients with post-nephrolithotomy septic shock and severe unexplained rhabdomyolysis. In both the cases, excellent results were observed. In selected cases, CPFA can be safely and effectively used in patients with a solid organ transplant. However, additional studies are needed in this particular setting, to further investigate the potential role of CPFA for the treatment of other conditions associated with excessive inflammation, such as in rheumatologic disorders and delayed graft function.

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Cytomegalovirus in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Clinical Updates, Challenges and Future Directions

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612826666200531152901 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (28) ◽

pp. 3497-3506

Author(s):

Raymund R. Razonable

Keyword(s):

Organ Transplantation ◽

Solid Organ Transplantation ◽

Organ Transplant ◽

Solid Organ Transplant ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Transplant Recipients ◽

Cmv Infection ◽

Future Directions ◽

Prevention And Treatment ◽

Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Cytomegalovirus is the classic opportunistic infection after solid organ transplantation. This review will discuss updates and future directions in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of CMV infection in solid organ transplant recipients. Antiviral prophylaxis and pre-emptive therapy are the mainstays of CMV prevention, but they should not be mutually exclusive and each strategy should be considered depending on a specific situation. The lack of a widely applicable viral load threshold for diagnosis and preemptive therapy is emphasized as a major factor that should pave the way for an individualized approach to prevention. Valganciclovir and intravenous ganciclovir remain as drugs of choice for CMV management, and strategies for managing drug-resistant CMV infection are enumerated. There is increasing use of CMV-specific cell-mediated immune assays to stratify the risk of CMV infection after solid organ transplantation, and their potential role in optimizing CMV prevention and treatment efforts is discussed.

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Cancer immunotherapy in special challenging populations: recommendations of the Advisory Committee of Spanish Melanoma Group (GEM)

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer ◽

10.1136/jitc-2020-001664 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. e001664

Author(s):

Maria Gonzalez-Cao ◽

Teresa Puertolas ◽

Mar Riveiro ◽

Eva Muñoz-Couselo ◽

Carolina Ortiz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Immunotherapy ◽

Multidisciplinary Approach ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Solid Organ Transplantation ◽

Latent Tuberculosis ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Chronic Infections ◽

Immunosuppressed Patients ◽

History Of ◽

Evidence Based Guidelines

Cancer immunotherapy based on the use of antibodies targeting the so-called checkpoint inhibitors, such as programmed cell death-1 receptor, its ligand, or CTLA-4, has shown durable clinical benefit and survival improvement in melanoma and other tumors. However, there are some special situations that could be a challenge for clinical management. Persons with chronic infections, such as HIV-1 or viral hepatitis, latent tuberculosis, or a history of solid organ transplantation, could be candidates for cancer immunotherapy, but their management requires a multidisciplinary approach. The Spanish Melanoma Group (GEM) panel in collaboration with experts in virology and immunology from different centers in Spain reviewed the literature and developed evidence-based guidelines for cancer immunotherapy management in patients with chronic infections and immunosuppression. These are the first clinical guidelines for cancer immunotherapy treatment in special challenging populations. Cancer immunotherapy in chronically infected or immunosuppressed patients is feasible but needs a multidisciplinary approach in order to decrease the risk of complications related to the coexistent comorbidities.

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Exploring the Epidemiology of Cancer after Solid Organ Transplantation (EpCOT): an observational cohort study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043731 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. e043731

Author(s):

Adnan Sharif ◽

Javeria Peracha ◽

David Winter ◽

Raoul Reulen ◽

Mike Hawkins

Keyword(s):

Organ Transplantation ◽

Record Linkage ◽

Solid Organ Transplantation ◽

Organ Transplant ◽

Solid Organ Transplant ◽

Study Cohort ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Post Transplantation ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Risk Of Cancer

IntroductionSolid organ transplant patients are counselled regarding increased risk of cancer (principally due to their need for lifelong immunosuppression) and it ranks as one of their biggest self-reported worries. Post-transplantation cancer is common, associated with increased healthcare costs and emerging as a leading cause of post-transplant mortality. However, epidemiology of cancer post-transplantation remains poorly understood, with limitations including translating data from different countries and national data being siloed across different registries and/or data warehouses.Methods and analysisStudy methodology for Epidemiology of Cancer after Solid Organ Transplantation involves record linkage between the UK Transplant Registry (from NHS Blood and Transplant), Hospital Episode Statistics (for secondary care episodes from NHS Digital), National Cancer Registry (from cancer registration data hosted by Public Health England) and the National Death Registry (from NHS Digital). Deterministic record linkage will be conducted by NHS Digital, with a fully anonymised linked dataset available for analysis by the research team. The study cohort will consist of up to 85 410 solid organ transplant recipients,who underwent a solid organ transplant in England between 1 January 1985 and 31 December 2015, with up-to-date outcome data.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Confidentiality Advisory Group (reference: 16/CAG/0121), Research Ethics Committee (reference: 15/YH/0320) and Institutional Review Board (reference: RRK5471). The results of this study will be presented at national and international conferences, and manuscripts with results will be submitted for publication in high-impact peer-reviewed journals. The information produced will also be used to develop national evidence-based clinical guidelines to inform risk stratification to enable risk-based clinical follow-up.Trial registration numberNCT02991105.

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Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disease Presenting as an Extracranial Mass

Case Reports in Transplantation ◽

10.1155/2017/6401086 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Reuben J. Arasaratnam ◽

Alejandro Restrepo

Keyword(s):

Soft Tissue ◽

Early Recognition ◽

Solid Organ Transplantation ◽

Organ Transplant ◽

Antibody Therapy ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Lymphoproliferative Disease ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Tissue Mass ◽

Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disease

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease is a serious complication following stem cell and solid organ transplantation. Early recognition of the disease is important in facilitating timely therapy and improving long-term outcomes. We report a renal transplant recipient presenting with an extracranial frontoparietal soft tissue mass that was subsequently diagnosed as a B-cell lymphoma. The patient was treated successfully with immunosuppression reduction, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy, and cytotoxic chemotherapy. Our case highlights the importance of recognizing soft tissue masses in the head and neck as a potential clinical manifestation of PTLD in solid organ transplant recipients.

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Pyridoxine Deficiency After Solid Organ Transplant

Progress in Transplantation ◽

10.1177/1526924817715465 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 251-256

Author(s):

Summer Van Arsdale ◽

Sarah E. Yost ◽

Chiu-Hsieh Hsu ◽

Mary Meer ◽

Shari Schoentag ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Correlation Coefficient ◽

Solid Organ Transplantation ◽

Organ Transplant ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Study Cohort ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Immune Functions ◽

Pyridoxine Deficiency ◽

The Mean ◽

Low Levels

Objective: Pyridoxine is 1 of 8 B vitamins that assist in a variety of essential functions including immune functions. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk factors associated with low pyridoxine levels in solid organ transplantation recipients. Design: The study cohort was divided into 2 groups: (a) patients with normal pyridoxine levels or (b) patients with low pyridoxine levels. Dietary evaluation and clinical characteristics of all patients, rejection episodes, and immunosuppression were collected. Simple descriptive statistics were used to analyze the overall cohort. Results: Of the 48 patients, 29 (60%) in the study cohort were identified to have low pyridoxine levels. The mean interval between transplantation and pyridoxine level check was 910 days (standard deviation [SD] 456). The mean weight at the time of dietary consultation was 80 kg (SD 20.7). More patients in the deficient group received thymoglobulin for rejection treatment (56% vs 0%; P = .01) and were thymoglobulin recipients (78% vs 10%; odds ratio [OR] = 31.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.35-422.30; P < .01). A strong correlation was identified between thymoglobulin treatment for induction and a low level of pyridoxine (correlation coefficient R = 0.6, P = .004) and between thymoglobulin treatment for rejection and a low pyridoxine level (correlation coefficient R = 0.5, P = .05). Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis, only thymoglobulin treatment (induction or rejection treatment) was significantly associated with low pyridoxine levels (OR = 19.5, 95% CI, 1.01-375.24; P < .05). Conclusions: Low levels of pyridoxine appear to be relatively common, and thymoglobulin treatments are associated with low pyridoxine levels. Prospective studies are needed to confirm and valuate the significance of these findings.

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Future of Solid Organ Transplantation: Organ-Specific Tolerance

KIDNEYS ◽

10.22141/2307-1257.10.3.2021.239589 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 130-136

Author(s):

Yusuf Ercin Sonmez

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Solid Organ Transplantation ◽

Organ Transplant ◽

Immunological Tolerance ◽

The Body ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Donor Organ ◽

Organ Specific ◽

Specific Tolerance

A transplant between two people who are not genetically identical is called an allotransplant and the process is called allotransplantation. Donor organs and tissues can be from people who are living, or people who have died because of a significant brain injury or lack of circulation. Allotransplantation can create a rejection process where the immune system of the recipient attacks the foreign donor organ or tissue and destroys it. The recipient may need to take immunosuppressive medication for the rest of their life to reduce the risk of rejection of the donated organ. In general, deliberately induced immunosuppression is performed to prevent the body from rejecting an organ transplant. The adverse effects associated with these agents and the risks of long-term immunosuppression present a number of challenges for the clinician. Immune tolerance, or immunological tolerance, or immunotolerance, is a state of unresponsiveness of the immune system to substances or tissue that have the capacity to elicit an immune response in a given organism.

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Viral Enteritis in Solid-Organ Transplantation

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13102019 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 2019

Author(s):

Anum Abbas ◽

Andrea J. Zimmer ◽

Diana Florescu

Keyword(s):

Solid Organ Transplantation ◽

Organ Transplant ◽

Solid Organ Transplant ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Transplant Recipients ◽

Post Transplantation ◽

Organ Transplant Recipients ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Viral Enteritis ◽

Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Solid organ transplant recipients are at increased risk for infections due to chronic immunosuppression. Diarrhea is a commonly encountered problem post transplantation, with infectious causes of diarrhea being a frequent complication. Viral infections/enteritides in solid organ transplant recipients often result from frequently encountered pathogens in this population such as cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, and norovirus. However, several emerging viral pathogens are increasingly being recognized as more sensitive diagnostic techniques become available. Treatment is often limited to supportive care and reduction in immunosuppression, though antiviral therapies mayplay a role in the treatment in certain diseases. Viral enteritis is an important entity that contributes to morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients.

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Herpes Zoster in Solid Organ Transplantation: Incidence and Risk Factors

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2021.645718 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Marcia M. L. Kho ◽

Stefan Roest ◽

Dominique M. Bovée ◽

Herold J. Metselaar ◽

Rogier A. S. Hoek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Herpes Zoster ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Solid Organ Transplantation ◽

Organ Transplant ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Disseminated Disease ◽

Cmv Prophylaxis

BackgroundStudies on herpes zoster (HZ) incidence in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients report widely varying numbers. We investigated HZ incidence, severity, and risk factors in recipients of four different SOTs, with a follow-up time of 6–14 years.MethodsRecords of 1,033 transplant recipients after first heart (HTx: n = 211), lung (LuTx: n = 121), liver (LiTx: n = 258) and kidney (KTx: n = 443) transplantation between 2000 and 2014 were analyzed for VZV-PCR, clinical signs of HZ, and complications.ResultsHZ was diagnosed in 108 of 1,033 patients (10.5%): 36 HTx, 17 LuTx, 15 LiTx, and 40 KTx recipients. Overall HZ incidence rate after HTx (30.7 cases/1,000 person–years (PY)), LuTx (38.8 cases/1,000 PY), LiTx (22.7 cases/1,000 PY) and KTx (14.5 cases/1,000 PY) was significantly higher than in the general 50–70 year population. Multivariable analysis demonstrated age ≥50 years at transplantation (p = 0.038, RR 1.536), type of organ transplant (overall p = 0.002; LuTx p = 0.393; RR 1.314; LiTx p = 0.011, RR 0.444; KTx p = 0.034, RR 0.575), CMV prophylaxis (p = 0.043, RR 0.631) and type of anti-rejection therapy (overall p = 0.020; methylprednisolone p = 0.008, RR 0.475; r-ATG p = 0.64, RR1.194) as significant risk factors. Complications occurred in 33 of 108 (31%) patients (39% of HTx, 47% of LuTx, 20% of LiTx, 20% of KTx): post-herpetic neuralgia, disseminated disease, and cranial nerve involvement.ConclusionHZ incidence and severity in SOT recipients are most pronounced after heart and lung transplantation, in older patients, and when CMV prophylaxis is lacking.

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