Recurrent leishmaniasis in kidney transplant recipients: report of 2 cases and systematic review of the literature

• Published in: Transplant infectious disease 2011-08, Vol.13 (4), p.397-406
• Main Authors: Simon, I., Wissing, K.M., Del Marmol, V., Antinori, S., Remmelink, M., Nilufer Broeders, E., Nortier, J.L., Corbellino, M., Abramowicz, D., Cascio, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; cryoglobulinemia; Female; Humans; Kidney Transplantation - adverse effects; Leg Ulcer - parasitology; Leg Ulcer - pathology; Leishmania; Leishmania - genetics; Leishmania - immunology; Leishmania - isolation & purification; Leishmania donovani - genetics; Leishmania donovani - immunology; Leishmania donovani - isolation & purification; leishmaniasis; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - diagnosis; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - parasitology; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - pathology; Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous - diagnosis; Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous - parasitology; Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous - pathology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - diagnosis; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - parasitology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Recurrence; tongue; Tongue - parasitology; Tongue - pathology; transplant; vasculitis
• ISSN: 1398-2273; 1399-3062
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3062.2011.00598.x

I. Simon, K.M. Wissing, V. Del Marmol, S. Antinori, M. Remmelink, E. Nilufer Broeders, J.L. Nortier, M. Corbellino, D. Abramowicz, A. Cascio. Recurrent leishmaniasis in kidney transplant recipients: report of 2 cases and systematic review of the literature.
Transpl Infect Dis 2011: 13: 397–406. All rights reserved : The characteristics of 8 episodes of leishmaniasis with atypical manifestations in 2 Italian kidney transplant recipients are analyzed and contextualized among those of 52 other episodes of leishmaniasis observed in 19 transplant recipients found through a systematic review of the international literature. In all the patients, the initial episode was visceral leishmaniasis, which was associated with mucocutaneous involvement in 2 cases. With the exception of 1 case of post kala‐azar dermal leishmaniasis, 2 episodes of Leishmania endophthalmitis, and 3 episodes of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, all the recurrences were characterized by visceral involvement. The potential role of polymerase chain reaction in monitoring the infection, the importance of a long follow‐up, the potential benefit of chemoprophylaxis, and the therapeutic challenges are discussed.