Incidence and clinical characteristics of ocular infections after heart transplantation: a retrospective cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Ocular infections associated with organ transplantation are well documented following renal and liver transplantation; however, few studies have reported ocular infections following heart transplant.


METHODS
We retrospectively studied patients who underwent heart transplantation in the Mayo Clinic Cardiac Transplant Program from January 1st 1988 through June 30th 2006.


RESULTS
We report the frequency and type of ocular infections among 313 heart transplant recipients. There were eight patients (2.5%) diagnosed with ocular infections including three cases of ophthalmic zoster, one case of cytomegalovirus retinitis, one case of Aspergillus fumigatus endophthalmitis, one case of Haemophilus influenzae conjunctivitis, one case of blepharitis, and one case of preseptal orbital cellulitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Ocular infections are rare after heart transplantation and usually present within the first year post-transplantation. The majority can be regarded as opportunistic infections which may be indicative of infections at other body sites. Ocular infections after heart transplantation may be associated with significant morbidity and visual loss if not promptly diagnosed.
Del Pozo
Jose L
JL
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA.
van de Beek
Diederik
D
Daly
Richard C
RC
Pulido
Jose S
JS
McGregor
Christopher G A
CG
Patel
Robin
R
D000368:Aged; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000276:immunology; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult