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Cerebral trypanosomiasis in a renal transplant recipient
Author(s) -
Cicora F.,
Escurra V.,
Bibolini J.,
Petroni J.,
González I.,
Roberti J.
Publication year - 2014
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/tid.12265
Subject(s) - medicine , chagas disease , transmission (telecommunications) , benznidazole , disease , trypanosoma cruzi , immunology , trypanosomiasis , transplantation , organ transplantation , opportunistic infection , kidney transplantation , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , viral disease , parasite hosting , electrical engineering , world wide web , computer science , engineering
Abstract Chagas disease is a lifelong, systemic, parasitic infection caused by the protozoan T rypanosoma cruzi . The main form of disease transmission is vector borne, but vertical transmission, such as by organ transplantation from a chronically infected donor, is also possible. The brain tumor‐like form can occur years after infection and has been described in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and in a very few cases in transplant recipients. We describe the case of a kidney transplant patient who was human immunodeficiency virus negative and infected with T . cruzi , and developed cerebral trypanosomiasis that was successfully treated with benznidazole at 7 mg/kg/day for 60 days. The risk of C hagas disease transmission should not be underestimated in renal transplant patients, even in non‐endemic areas. C hagas disease can present as a tumor‐like brain lesion, very difficult to differentiate from other opportunistic infectious or neoplastic processes. Frequent monitoring for T . cruzi infection is essential to promptly implement treatment, which, in our patient, proved to be effective and safe.

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