title: Parasitic infection in renal transplant recipients.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of symptomatic parasitic infections in adult renal transplant recipients. We retrospectively analyzed a sample of 657 adult renal transplant recipients performed from January 2001 to December 2005 for immunosuppression protocol, clinical manifestations, parasite diagnosis, treatments, and outcomes. The prevalence of symptomatic parasitosis infections was 2.4% (16/657). None of the infected patients received cyclosporine in their immunosuppression protocol. Most of the infections were caused by Strongyloids stercoralis (n = 11), followed by Giardia lamblia (n = 3), Toxoplasma gondii (n = 1), and Trypanosoma cruzi: (n = 1). Strongyloides stercoralis was the most frequent agent, causing three cases of hyperinfection including one fatal case. With the new immunosuppressive regimes there must be a suspicion of parasitic infection to avoid the diagnostic delay that can be fatal. Strategies, including empiric treatment for S. stercoralis, must be considered.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Service-Renal and Pancreas Transplant Unit, Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valar
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keitel
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Dal Prá
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gnatta
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: T C T
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Sukiennik
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Pegas
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bittar
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017206:Strongylida Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*