Glioblastoma in kidney transplant recipients. Report of five cases.
Five patients who developed an intracranial glioblastoma after a kidney transplant are described. All patients underwent surgical removal of the lesion and eventually radiation therapy, but none of them is still alive at follow-up. The possibility of tumours occurring in transplant recipients is a recognised entity and several series have been reported. Nevertheless, little consideration has been paid to post-transplant gliomas and a precise evaluation of this risk is still lacking. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain a possible link. One possible factor may be the immunosuppressive state of recipients as a result of post-transplant administration of immunosuppressive drugs, as it is known that gliomas have an higher incidence in HIV-infected patients. However, it is not yet clear whether immunosuppressive drugs function as a direct transforming factor.
Salvati
Maurizio
M
Department of Neurosurgery, INM Neuromed IRCCS, Pozzilli, Italy. salvati.maurizio@libero.it
Frati
Alessandro
A
Caroli
Emanuela
E
Russo
Natale
N
Polli
Filippo M
FM
Domenicucci
Maurizio
M
Delfini
Roberto
R
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents