International Journal of Organ Transplantation Medicine (Jul 2011)

Evaluation of Candida Infection after Six Months of Transplantation in Pediatric Liver Recipients in Iran

  • N Honar,
  • MH Imanieh,
  • M Haghighat,
  • SM Dehghani,
  • M Zahmatkeshan,
  • P Badiee,
  • S Nikeghbalian,
  • K Kazemi,
  • A Bahador,
  • H Salahi,
  • B Geramizadeh,
  • SA Malek-Hosseini

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2, no. 3
pp. 105 – 107

Abstract

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Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is the standard treatment of end-stage liver diseases (ESLD). Invasive fungal infection is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality after transplantation.Objective: To determine the incidence of late-onset (after 6 months of LT) Candida infection in recipients.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate 50 pediatric patients after LT for 8 years at the LT Unit of Nemazee Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. We followed the patients until 6 months post-LT for episodes of Candida infection proven by culture.Results: One recipient (2%) developed late-onset esophageal candidiasis with improvement after intravenous amphotricin therapy but finally expired with a diagnosis of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD).Conclusions: The incidence of late-onset Candida infection is not significant in pediatric liver recipient, but it still remains a significant problem. Control of Candida colonization would reduce the risk of invasive fungal infections and possibly more fatal complications.

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