Liver Transplant Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Liver Transplant, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery, organ donation.

A cluster of rotavirus enteritis in adult transplant recipients.

Stelzmueller I, Dunst KM, Hengster P, Wykypiel H, Steurer W, Wiesmayr S, Margreiter R, Bonatti H

Department of General and Transplant Surgery, Innsbruck University Hospital, Austria.

Diarrhea following solid organ transplantation is a common side effect of some immunosuppressive agents but can also be caused by many pathogens. An outbreak of rotavirus (RV) enteritis presenting with severe diarrhea in four solid organ recipients was analyzed. The first case was diagnosed in a 6-month-old liver recipient who was prehospitalized on a pediatric ward. Within 1 month, three adult patients (two liver, one renal recipient) presented with enteritis. During diarrhea a significant rise in tacrolimus levels was observed. One patient developed toxic megacolon with ulcerative colitis. Infections were self-limiting but led to secondary infectious complications and prolonged hospitalization. This is the first reported outbreak of RV enteritis in a multiorgan transplant unit involving adult patients. Although no fingerprinting or subtyping of the virus was performed we assume the child was the primary source. In transplant recipients presenting with diarrhea RV infection should be considered.

Published 18 March 2005 in Transpl Int, 18(4): 470-4.
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