scholarly journals A Concise Review of Hepatitis C in Heart and Lung Transplantation

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 445-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Kim ◽  
Hin Hin Ko ◽  
Eric M Yoshida

Hepatitis C (HCV) infection is prevalent in recipients of, and candidates for, solid organ transplants. The outcomes of HCV infection in cardiac and lung transplant recipients have yet to be clearly established, and future prospective studies are needed. In the absence of safe and effective antiviral treatment for HCV infection in heart and lung transplant recipients, the management of these patients remains a challenge and must be considered on an individual basis. Interferon therapy for HCV before transplantation appears to improve outcomes; however, post-transplant interferon therapy in the cardiac and pulmonary transplant setting may be associated with an increased risk of graft rejection. Given the paucity of information regarding HCV treatment in these transplant recipients, and with appropriate concerns that graft loss from rejection may not be amenable to a second transplant (given the scarcity of suitable cadaveric organs), multicentre, randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the optimal approach for treatment of HCV infection in this population.

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2146
Author(s):  
Roni Bitterman ◽  
Deepali Kumar

Solid organ transplantation is often lifesaving, but does carry an increased risk of infection. Respiratory viral infections are one of the most prevalent infections, and are a cause of significant morbidity and mortality, especially among lung transplant recipients. There is also data to suggest an association with acute rejection and chronic lung allograft dysfunction in lung transplant recipients. Respiratory viral infections can appear at any time post-transplant and are usually acquired in the community. All respiratory viral infections share similar clinical manifestations and are all currently diagnosed using nucleic acid testing. Influenza has good treatment options and prevention strategies, although these are hampered by resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors and lower vaccine immunogenicity in the transplant population. Other respiratory viruses, unfortunately, have limited treatments and preventive methods. This review summarizes the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, therapies and preventive measures for clinically significant RNA and DNA respiratory viruses, with the exception of SARS-CoV-2. This area is fast evolving and hopefully the coming decades will bring us new antivirals, immunologic treatments and vaccines.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S923-S923
Author(s):  
Emily Mui ◽  
Marisa Holubar ◽  
Roy Lee ◽  
Danielle Pham ◽  
Lina Meng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Community-acquired respiratory virus (CARV) infections are associated with an increased risk of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) and graft loss in lung transplant recipients (LTR). Administration of ribavirin by aerosol was the standard of care at Stanford Health Care in the management of CARV infections. Given the sparse evidence of benefit with aerosol ribavirin (AR) and its increasing cost and teratogenic risk for exposed healthcare personnel, AR was restricted to the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in 2016 and was ultimately removed from formulary in 2017. Oral (PO) ribavirin was used at the discretion of the transplant team. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of AR compared with PO ribavirin in lung transplant recipients. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of adult lung transplant recipients diagnosed with CARV (metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, and RSV) infections treated with either AR or PO ribavirin. The analysis included the first treatment course of ribavirin by either route and patients were excluded if they received ribavirin in the prior 12 months. The primary outcome was the development/progression of CLAD, acute organ rejection, and overall mortality. Results Of 85 patients, 41 received AR and 44 received PO ribavirin. There was no significant difference in the following clinical outcomes with AR and oral ribavirin, respectively: development or progression of CLAD (30 days: 9.7% vs. 4.5%, P = 0.4227; 90 days: 14.6% vs. 6.8%, P = 0.303; 6 months: 17% vs. 9%, P = 0.3413; 12 months: 24% vs. 15.9%, P = 0.4188), acute organ rejection (90 days: 7.3% vs. 4.5%, P = 0.6689; 6 months: 12.1% vs. 9%, P = 0.7329; 12 months: 19.5% vs. 13.6%, P = 0.5635), and overall mortality (30 days: 0% vs. 4.5%, P = 0.4947; 90 days: 7.3% vs. 4.5%, P = 0.6689; 6 months: 7.3% vs. 9%, P = 1.0; 12 months: 7.3% vs. 13.6%, P = 0.4858). There was no observable difference in reported adverse effects between AR and PO ribavirin. Conclusion Lung transplant recipients with CARV infections had similar outcomes when treated with AR or PO ribavirin. Oral ribavirin is a less costly treatment than AR, but the efficacy of ribavirin by any route remains questionable. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ige A. George ◽  
Carlos A. Q. Santos ◽  
Margaret A. Olsen ◽  
William G. Powderly

Abstract Background Cryptococcosis is the third most common invasive fungal infection in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. There are no nationally representative data describing the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of cryptococcosis after SOT. Methods We assembled a large cohort of adult SOT recipients using Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification billing data from Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases of Florida (2006–2012), New York (2006–2011), and California (2004–2010). Demographics, comorbidities, death, and cryptococcal infections coded during hospitalization were identified. Results A total of 42634 adults with SOT were identified during the study period. Cryptococcal disease was identified in 0.37% (n = 158), 44% of which had meningitis (n = 69). Median time to diagnosis of cryptococcosis was 464 days (range, 4–2393). The median time to onset of cryptococcosis was earlier for lung (191 days; range, 7.5–1816), heart (195 days; range, 4–1061), and liver (200 days; range, 4–1581) compared with kidney transplant recipients (616 days; range, 12–2393; P < .001, log rank test). Very early-onset disease (<30 days after transplantation) more frequently occurred in liver and lung transplant recipients. Lung transplant recipients had the highest risk of cryptococcosis (hazard ratio [HR], 2.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–3.60). Cryptococcosis was associated with death (HR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.68–3.11), after adjusting for age, type of SOT, and other comorbidities. Conclusions Cryptococcosis is rare after SOT, but it is associated with significantly increased risk of death. Lung transplant recipients are at highest risk for cryptococcosis among SOTs. Nonkidney transplants have earlier onset of cryptococcosis and higher risk of death compared with kidney transplant recipients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e19046-e19046
Author(s):  
Mobeen Zaka Haider ◽  
Zarlakhta Zamani ◽  
Fnu Kiran ◽  
Hasan Mehmood Mirza ◽  
Muhammad Taqi ◽  
...  

e19046 Background: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a serious complication after solid organ transplantation. This study aims to explore the association of PTLD diagnosed after lung transplant with infectious agents and immunosuppression regimen, explore types of PTLD, and their outcome. Methods: Following the PRISMA guideline, we searched the literature on PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and clinicaltrials.gov. 1741 articles were screened and included five studies. Results: We analyzed data from five studies, n=13,643 transplant recipients with n=287 (2.10%) developed PTLD. Four studies showed that 32/63 (51%) PTLD patients were male and 31 (49%) were female. Three studies reported 53/55 (96.4%) patients were EBV positive at PTLD diagnosis. Courtwright. et al, reported that 217/224 (97%) PTLD was associated with either EBV positive donor or recipient. Four studies showed that the monomorphic B cell type 48/63 (76%) was the most common histological type of PTLD diagnosed with DLBCL the most common subtype 31/48 (64.6%). Data from 3 studies showed that the onset of PTLD following lung transplant varies with a median duration of 18.3 months (45 days to 20.2 years). Three studies showed that 26/55 (47.3%) patients had early-onset (≤ 1 yr of Tx) and 29/55 (52.7%) patients had late-onset PTLD (> 1 yr of Tx). Management of PTLD included a reduction in immunosuppression including corticosteroids, CNI, purine synthesis inhibitors, Rituximab, and chemotherapeutic agents. Three studies showed a mortality rate of 30/45 (66.7%) and 13/30 (43.3%) deaths were PTLD related. Conclusions: Our review concludes that PTLD is a serious complication, only 2% of lung transplant recipients developed PTLD. EBV seropositivity is the most factor associated with PTLD diagnosis. Monomorphic PTLD was reported as the most common type in the adult population and no association between gender and PTLD was found. The analysis shows that there is a slightly lower incidence of early (≤ 1 yr of Tx) than late-onset (> 1 yr of Tx) PTLD. Table 1 PTLD after a Lung transplant in adults - a review. [Table: see text]


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (03) ◽  
pp. 483-496
Author(s):  
Reason Wilken ◽  
John Carucci ◽  
Mary L. Stevenson

AbstractIt is well known that solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) have a 65- to 100-fold increase in the risk of developing skin cancer, namely, nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) such as cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). In addition, these patients are also at increased risk for development of melanoma as well as other less common cutaneous malignancies (Merkel's cell carcinoma, Kaposi's sarcoma). SOTRs with NMSC (namely cSCC) are also at significantly increased risk of poor clinical outcomes including local recurrence, nodal and distant metastasis, and disease-specific death relative to patients who are not immunosuppressed. Increased surveillance and monitoring in patients at risk of aggressive disease and poor outcomes who are on immunosuppression is essential in patients with lung transplants given the high degree of immunosuppression. Increased awareness of risks, treatments, and management allows for improved outcomes in these patients. This article will provide an overview of the risk factors for the development of cutaneous malignancies in organ transplant recipients as well as a detailed discussion of various immunosuppressant and prophylactic medications used in this patient population that contribute to the risk of developing cutaneous malignancies, with an emphasis on NMSC (cSCC and BCC) in lung transplant recipients. Finally, this article includes a discussion on the clinical and dermatologic management of this high-risk immunosuppressed population including a review of topical and systemic agents for field therapy of actinic damage and chemoprevention of keratinocyte carcinomas. In addition, indications for additional treatment and preventive measures such as adjuvant radiation treatment after surgical management of cutaneous malignancies and potential modification of immunosuppressive medication regimens are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (16) ◽  
pp. 976-980
Author(s):  
Sara Winward ◽  
Iain Lawrie ◽  
Susan Talbot Towell ◽  
Nina Sheridan ◽  
Patricia Ging

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency of international concern. Solid organ transplant recipients have been identified as being at high risk of acquiring the virus SARS-CoV-2 and having a more severe COVID-19 disease. This article describes the experience of the National Lung Transplant Centre in Ireland in changing established care pathways for lung transplant recipients during the pandemic. The innovations which were put in place to protect this clinically vulnerable group are discussed. With the advancement of technology and remote monitoring systems available, patient-focused strategies and community-based interventions were implemented. Additional strategies have been implemented so that the new model of care can be safely maintained.


Author(s):  
Mohammed Altaf ◽  
Katie Lineburg ◽  
Pauline Crooks ◽  
Sweera Rehan ◽  
Katherine K Matthews ◽  
...  

Abstract Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains a significant burden in lung transplant recipients. Deficiencies in T-cell immunity post-transplant increase the risk of CMV-associated complications. However, it is not clear if underlying poor pre-transplant immunity increases risk. To assess this, we recruited 39 prospective lung transplant patients and performed QuantiFERON-CMV on their peripheral blood. More than a third of prospective CMV-seropositive transplant recipients were CMV non-immune-reactive (CMV-NIR) pre-transplant. CMV-NIR status was associated with a significantly higher incidence of CMV reactivation post-transplant, demonstrating that dysfunctional CMV immunity in prospective lung transplant recipients is associated with an increased risk of viral reactivation post-transplant.


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