Infectious risk in pediatric organ transplant recipients: is it increased with the new immunosuppressive agents?
The risk of infection in pediatric organ transplant recipients is determined by several factors, including age, the types of organ transplanted and the immunosuppressive treatment which has dramatically changed over the past 10 yr. Little information has been reported regarding the infectious complications related to the current immunosuppressive protocols used in these children. This paper reviews (i) the immunosuppressive agents, focusing on their mechanisms of action and on the new regimens, (ii) the infections related to excessive immunosuppression and also anti-infectious properties or infectious adverse reactions associated with specific immunosuppressive agents. With the new immunosuppressive protocols, the advances in immunologic monitoring, microbiological diagnosis, anti-infectious prophylactic and preemptive treatments, strategies to minimize the risk of infection related to the immunosuppressive therapy are proposed.
Renoult
Edith
E
Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Pediatrics, Hopital Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. erenoult@msn.edu
Buteau
Chantal
C
Lamarre
Valérie
V
Turgeon
Nathalie
N
Tapiero
Bruce
B
D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents