title: Is toxoplasmosis prophylaxis necessary in cardiac transplantation? Long-term follow-up at two transplant centers.
abstract: Cardiac transplant recipients are often given prophylactic treatments to prevent opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis carinii. Toxoplasmosis prophylaxis is commonly prescribed for transplant recipients who have not been exposed to this disease but receive a heart from an exposed donor. We reviewed the collective 28-year experience at two urban transplant programs with 596 patients, and found no cases of toxoplasmosis, but all patients received trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole to prevent Pneumocystis pneumonia. We conclude that specific anti-toxoplasmosis prophylaxis is unnecessary in heart transplant recipients.
authors.affiliation: Transplant Center, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, New Jersey 07112, USA. dbaran@sbhcs.com <dbaran@sbhcs.com>
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Baran
authors.forename: Mamata M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alwarshetty
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alvi
authors.forename: Luis H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lubitz
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinney
authors.forename: Alan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gass
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zucker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013411:Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D013411:Sulfadiazine; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D011739:Pyrimethamine