Visceral Dissemination of Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis in a Kidney Transplant Recipient

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Marques, N (Author) Other; Bustorff, M (Author) Other; Anabela Cordeiro da Silva (Author) FFUP; Pinto, AI (Author) Other; Santarem, N (Author) Other; Ferreira, F (Author) Other; Nunes, A (Author) Other; Cerqueira, A (Author) Other; Rocha, A (Author) Other; Ferreira, I (Author) Other; Tavares, I (Author) FMUP; Santos, J (Author) Other; Fonseca E (Author) FMUP; Moura, C (Author) Other; Cerejeira, A (Author) Other; Vide, J (Author) Other; Cancela, J (Author) Other; Simoes, JS (Author) Other; Sampaio, S (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Pathogens

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 4 Citations

Scopus - 5 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00T-9A9

DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10010018

Abstract (EN): Intracellular protozoan of the genus Leishmania, endemic in the Mediterranean basin, are the cause of cutaneous (CL), mucocutaneous (MCL), and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). A 75-year-old woman was admitted nine years after a second kidney transplant (KT), due to persistent pancytopenia and fever. She presented edema and erythema of the nose in the last two years and an exophytic nodular lesion located on the left arm, with areas of peripheral necrosis and central ulceration in the last 18 months. A bone marrow biopsy revealed features compatible with Leishmania amastigotes, and polymerase chain reaction test (PCR) for Leishmania infantum was positive. Moreover, biopsy and PCR for L. infantum of the cutaneous lesion on the patient's left arm and nose and PCR from peripheral blood were positive. Thus, a diagnosis of CL, MCL, and VL was made, and liposomal amphotericin B was initiated, but the patient had an unfavorable outcome and died. This is the first report of a KT recipient presenting with the entire spectrum of leishmaniasis. In Portugal, this infection is rare-so a high degree of clinical suspicion is required for its diagnosis, especially in endemic regions, as visceral leishmaniasis is a potentially life-threatening infection.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11