Fulminant pulmonary infections in renal transplant recipients
Chatterjee, S.N.; Gottlieb, L.; Berne, T.V.
Surgery Gynecology and Obstetrics 147(4): 583-587
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0039-6087 PMID: 360450 Document Number: 135039
In California, USA, 21 cases of severe pulmonary infection were diagnosed in 186 patients who had undergone 200 renal transplants and who were on immunosuppressive therapy. Pneumocystis was found in 7 patients who were successfully treated with pentamidine isethionate. All 7 patients, in spite of reduction of immunosuppressive therapy, had functioning kidney grafts at the completion of treatment. Of 200 consecutive renal transplants during a 7 yr period, severe pulmonary infections developed in 21 patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy and included infections with Nocardia asteroides, Aspergillus fumigatus and Cryptococcus neoformans. One death resulted from aspergillosis. Diagnosis in 17 cases of pulmonary infection was by flexible, fibreoptic bronchoscope.