Prevalence of superficial dermatomycoses in 73 renal transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
Because of chronic immunosuppressive therapy, the skin of renal transplant recipients (RTR) is considered more liable to fungal infections.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to analyze the prevalence of superficial dermatomycoses in a chronically immunosuppressed group of RTR who live in northern Italy and to verify the eventual relationship between the onset of mycoses, the immunosuppressive regimen and the interval of time elapsed after the transplantation.


METHODS
73 RTR were submitted to a complete dermatological examination for fungal infection. Skin scrapings were taken from the upper back, from the 4th toe web of all patients and from any suspicious lesion.


RESULTS
31 patients (42.5%) were affected by dermatomycosis. Pityriasis versicolor (PV) was present in 20 RTR (27.4%), fungal infection of the 4th toe web in 10 patients (13.7%) and onychomycosis in 9 RTR (12.3%). Trichophyton mentagrophytes was the most common dermatophyte. The prevalence of dermatomycoses was higher in the group of patients treated with azathioprine-cyclosporine-steroids and in those who had received their renal transplant in the previous 1-5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
PV was the most frequent dermatomycosis and showed a higher prevalence than in the normal population. The prevalence of fungal infection of the 4th toe web and onychomycosis was similar to that found in the immunocompetent population, but the length of interval after transplantation seemed to increase the probability of their occurrence and of mixed or simultaneous fungal infections in the same patient.
Virgili
A
A
Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Sezione di Dermatologia, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italia.
Zampino
M R
MR
La Malfa
V
V
Strumia
R
R
Bedani
P L
PL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010407:Penicillium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015995:Prevalence; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013256:Steroids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014010:Tinea Versicolor / Q000382:microbiology; D014034:Toes / Q000382:microbiology; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000302:isolation & purification
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013256:Steroids; D016572:Cyclosporine; D001379:Azathioprine