Visceral leishmaniasis after renal transplantation: report of 4 cases in northeastern Brazil.
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a well recognized opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed patients, which may cause febrile illness. We describe 4 renal transplant patients with VL in an endemic area in Brazil and their response to therapy. In 3 cases the diagnosis was confirmed by bone marrow aspirate that revealed the presence of Leishmania. In 1 case the bone marrow aspirate was inconclusive and the diagnosis was made through spleen biopsy that showed the presence of the parasite. VL needs to be considered as a cause of febrile illness in transplanted patients living in endemic areas.
Division of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Barbalha, Brazil. rodrigoalves22@uol.com.br
R A
RA
Oliveira
L S V
LS
Silva
V P
VP
Carvalho
A F
AF
Coutinho
F G
FG
Pinheiro
C G
CG
Lima
J E
JE
Leandro
G B
GB
Silva
E F
EF
Daher
D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D001938:Brazil; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D000666:Amphotericin B