West Nile virus infection in kidney and pancreas transplant recipients in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex during the 2012 Texas epidemic.
BACKGROUND
In 2012, the United States experienced one of its worst West Nile virus (WNV) epidemics, reporting 5,387 human cases and final death toll of 243. Texas was at the epicenter of the outbreak, with 1,875 reported cases and 89 deaths that year. The Texas outbreak centered mainly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where 30 deaths were reported. We report three cases of severe WNV infection complicated by meningoencephalitis in our organ transplant population.


METHODS
Clinical data were collected from chart review. Therapy and outcomes on three identified patients were reviewed and compared with previously reported cases of WNV infection in kidney/pancreas transplant recipients and the general population.


RESULTS
Two recipients of kidney and one recipient of a combined kidney and pancreas transplant were treated at our center for WNV infection. All three patients presented with a rapid decline in mental status within 24 hours of admission consistent with meningoencephalitis. Diagnosis was made based on detection of WNV IgM in the serum. All patients received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy at 400 mg/kg × 3 to 4 doses. As a result, two patients had a full recovery, and one patient died.


CONCLUSIONS
Transplant recipients have a higher risk of neurologic complications from WNV infection. In areas where WNV is endemic, clinicians must have a high index of suspicion when treating patients presenting with fever, headache, and confusion. Full recovery in two of three patients suggests a potential role of IVIG therapy in controlling active WNV infection, particularly in immunosuppressed patients.
1 Dallas Nephrology Associates, Fort Worth, TX. 2 Baylor All Saints Transplant Administration, Fort Worth, TX. 3 Dallas Nephrology Associates, Dallas, TX. 4 Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX. 5 Baylor Transplant Service, Dallas, TX. 6 Address correspondence to: Angelito Yango, Dallas Nephrology Associates 1250 Eighth Avenue Suite 500 Fort Worth, TX 76104.
Angelito F
AF
Yango
Bernard V
BV
Fischbach
Marlon
M
Levy
Arun
A
Chandrakantan
Valerie
V
Tan
Cedric
C
Spak
Larry
L
Melton
Kim
K
Rice
Yousri
Y
Barri
Arthi
A
Rajagopal
Goran
G
Klintmalm
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D012306:Risk; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D014902:West Nile virus
D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents