Abstract |
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.
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Authors | K L Lawrence, M R Morrell, G A Storch, R R Hachem, E P Trulock |
Journal | Transplant infectious disease : an official journal of the Transplantation Society
(Transpl Infect Dis)
Vol. 11
Issue 3
Pg. 203-10
(Jun 2009)
ISSN: 1399-3062 [Electronic] Denmark |
PMID | 19228344
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Ehrlichia
(classification, drug effects, genetics, isolation & purification)
- Ehrlichiosis
(diagnosis, drug therapy, microbiology, physiopathology)
- Female
- Humans
- Lung Transplantation
(adverse effects)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Organ Transplantation
(adverse effects)
- Prognosis
- Severity of Illness Index
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