Premium
Transmission of Syphilis by Solid Organ Transplantation
Author(s) -
Cortes N. J.,
Afzali B.,
MacLean D.,
Goldsmith D. J. A.,
O'Sullivan H.,
Bingham J.,
Lewis D. A.,
MacMahon E.,
Tong C. Y. W.,
Koffman G.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2006.01461.x
Subject(s) - syphilis , medicine , transplantation , serology , transmission (telecommunications) , context (archaeology) , organ transplantation , kidney transplantation , organ donation , immunology , surgery , antibody , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , biology , paleontology , electrical engineering , engineering
Two organ recipients developed serologic evidence of syphilis infection after renal transplantation from a common deceased donor with a history of treated syphilis. Testing of donor serum for syphilis, which occurred after transplantation, gave results interpreted as consistent with past infection. However, subsequent serologic results in the recipients suggested transmission of infection at transplantation due to active infection of the donor. This may be explained by recent donor re‐infection in view of the current syphilis epidemic in the United Kingdom. An initial error in the treatment of recipients further served to highlight unfamiliarity in managing this resurgent infection in the context of organ transplantation.