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Clinical outcomes of solid organ transplant recipients with ehrlichiosis
Author(s) -
Lawrence K.L.,
Morrell M.R.,
Storch G.A.,
Hachem R.R.,
Trulock E.P.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
transplant infectious disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.69
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1399-3062
pISSN - 1398-2273
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-3062.2009.00373.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ehrlichiosis , solid organ , intensive care unit , organ transplantation , lung , intensive care medicine , transplantation , veterinary medicine , tick
Because of our experience with severe Ehrlichia infections in lung transplant recipients, we reviewed all cases of ehrlichiosis in solid organ transplant recipients at Barnes‐Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Between 1996 and 2007, 25 cases of ehrlichiosis were identified. We retrospectively collected demographic, clinical, laboratory, and outcomes data, and we compared the 5 cases in lung transplant recipients with 20 cases in other solid organ transplant recipients (heart, 2; kidney, 13; liver, 5). The presenting symptoms in the majority of both groups consisted of fever and headache. Clinical outcomes were worse in the lung transplant group and included a greater need for intensive care unit treatment (80% vs. 20%, P =0.02), longer length of hospital stay (21 vs. 5 days, P =0.02), and propensity to develop acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome (60% vs. 10%, P =0.04). No mortalities occurred in either group of patients. In an endemic area, ehrlichiosis is not unusual in solid organ transplant recipients, and lung transplant recipients tend to have a more severe illness.