PuSH - Publication Server of Helmholtz Zentrum München

Eisinger, F. ; Walter, E.* ; Nadalin, S.* ; Birkenfeld, A.L. ; Heyne, N. ; Guthoff, M. ; Mühlbacher, T.

Late onset cerebral nocardiosis in a sensitized renal transplant recipient following alemtuzumab induction: A case report.

Transplant. Proc. 54, 116-119 (2022)
DOI PMC
Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
Background: Balancing immunosuppressive regimen to prevent rejection yet avoiding severe infectious complications remains a key challenge following renal transplantation, especially in patients sensitized after exposure to human leukocyte antigens. We herein report a late onset infection with nocardia in a sensitized renal transplant recipient. Case presentation: A 65-year-old male patient, who had received kidney transplantation with alemtuzumab induction due to human leukocyte antigen-sensitization 3 years ago, was admitted with headache and dizziness. A cerebral magnetic resonance imaging scan showed a right parieto-occipital brain abscess. Surgical abscess drainage was performed and microbiology analysis detected Nocardia paucivorans in the abscess fluid. Laboratory results showed persistently reduced lymphocyte and T-cell counts 3 years after transplantation. We started intravenous antibiotic therapy with high dose trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and imipenem/cilastatin. Furthermore, immunosuppression was adapted with discontinuation of mycophenolate. After 7 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy, the patient was switched to an oral antibiotic regimen with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and minocycline. In the follow-up magnetic resonance imaging scan, cerebral lesions were substantially reduced, initial symptoms completely disappeared, and allograft function remained stable. Conclusions: Induction therapy with the CD52-antibody alemtuzumab enables transplantation in highly sensitized patients but leads to lymphocyte depletion for several weeks. Our patient presented with prolonged lymphopenia and a significantly reduced T-cell count 3 years after transplantation. To our knowledge, our case is the first to describe a late-onset nocardia infection 3 years after alemtuzumab induction in a renal transplant recipient. It underlines the importance of considering this rare disease in transplant patients, especially after induction therapy with depleting antibodies.
Impact Factor
Scopus SNIP
Altmetric
1.014
0.537
Tags
Annotations
Special Publikation
Hide on homepage

Edit extra information
Edit own tags
Private
Edit own annotation
Private
Hide on publication lists
on hompage
Mark as special
publikation
Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Keywords Solid-organ; Infections
Language english
Publication Year 2022
Prepublished in Year 2021
HGF-reported in Year 2021
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0041-1345
e-ISSN 0041-1345
Quellenangaben Volume: 54, Issue: 3, Pages: 116-119 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Elsevier
Publishing Place Ste 800, 230 Park Ave, New York, Ny 10169 Usa
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
POF-Topic(s) 90000 - German Center for Diabetes Research
Research field(s) Helmholtz Diabetes Center
PSP Element(s) G-502400-001
Scopus ID 85122037097
PubMed ID 34974894
Erfassungsdatum 2022-01-28