title: Protothecosis after liver transplantation.
abstract: Prototheca species are unicellular algae of low virulence that are rarely associated with human infections. We report a liver transplant recipient with disseminated protothecosis and review the literature on this unusual opportunistic infection in transplant recipients. Of 9 cases, including ours, 5 had a localized infection, and 4 had disseminated protothecosis. Seven cases were due to Prototheca wickerhamii, and 2 were due to Prototheca zopfii. Overall mortality in transplant recipients with Prototheca infections was 88% (7/8). All 4 cases of disseminated protothecosis died despite therapy with amphotericin B. Posttransplant protothecosis is a rare but significant infection that is associated with a grave prognosis.
authors.affiliation: VA Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narita
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Muder
authors.forename: Thomas V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Cacciarelli
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011525:Prototheca