title: Graft failure due to hemolytic uremic syndrome recurrence.
abstract: The hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a severe disease characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. We herein report our experience with a 43-year-old female patient who underwent a second cadaveric kidney transplantation in February 2005, for adult-onset HUS. The first renal transplantation, which was performed in 1996, required removal after 3 weeks for probable recurrence of HUS. The immunosuppressive regimen for the second transplant included basiliximab, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids. On postoperative day (POD) 7, she received steroid treatment for an acute rejection episode with improved renal function. On POD 19 due to worsening renal function, a graft biopsy showed HUS recurrence, thus we instituted hemodialysis and then plasmapheresis treatments. At two months after transplantation, the patient continued under plasmapheresis treatment due to clinical evidence of HUS. On POD 80, cytomegalovirus infection was diagnosed and intravenous gancyclovir treatment started for 3 weeks. After 110 days from transplant, a deterioration in renal function was evident: the graft was swollen and painful with Doppler ultrasound showing patency of both the renal artery and vein but, low blood flow. After 2 weeks of hemodialysis, the patient underwent transplantectomy. In adult-onset HUS the recurrence rate reduces graft survival, particularly among patients undergoing second transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Chirurgica Università Tor Vergata, Ospedale S.Eugenio Roma.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iaria
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anselmo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tariciotti
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ielpo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muzi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lucchesi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Andria
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Del Poeta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poggi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tisone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D012008:Recurrence; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012086:Reoperation; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome