Clinical characteristics and outcomes of toxoplasmosis among transplant recipients at two US academic medical centers

Resource type
Journal Article
Authors/contributors
Title
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of toxoplasmosis among transplant recipients at two US academic medical centers
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii can cause severe opportunistic infection in immunocompromised individuals, but diagnosis is often delayed. We conducted a retrospective review of solid organ transplant (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with toxoplasmosis between 2002 and 2018 at two large US academic transplant centers. Patients were identified by ICD-­9 or ICD-­10 toxoplasmosis codes, positive Toxoplasma polymerase chain reaction test result, or pathologic diagnosis. Data were collected regarding transplant type, time from transplant to toxoplasmosis diagnosis, clinical and radiographic features, and mortality at 30 and 90 days. Twenty patients were identified: 10 HSCT recipients (80% allogeneic HSCT) and 10 SOT recipients (60% deceased donor renal transplants). Rejection among SOT recipients (70%) and graft-­versus-h­ ost disease (GVHD) prophylaxis among HSCT recipients (50%) were frequent. Median time from transplant to toxoplasmosis diagnosis was longer for SOT than HSCT (1385 vs. 5 days, P-­value .002). Clinical manifestations most commonly were encephalitis (65%), respiratory failure (40%), renal failure (40%), and distributive shock (40%). Cohort 30-­day mortality was 45%, and 90-­day mortality was 55%. Diagnosis was postmortem in 25% of the cohort. Further evaluation of toxoplasmosis screening is needed for noncardiac SOT recipients, HSCT recipients with GVHD, and periods of increased net immunosuppression.
Publication
Transplant Infectious Disease
Date
08/2021
Volume
23
Issue
4
Journal Abbr
Transpl Infect Dis
Accessed
5/11/23, 6:31 AM
ISSN
1398-2273, 1399-3062
Language
en
Library Catalog
DOI.org (Crossref)
Citation
Adekunle, R. O., Sherman, A., Spicer, J. O., Messina, J. A., Steinbrink, J. M., Sexton, M. E., Lyon, G. M., Mehta, A. K., Phadke, V. K., & Woodworth, M. H. (2021). Clinical characteristics and outcomes of toxoplasmosis among transplant recipients at two US academic medical centers. Transplant Infectious Disease, 23(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/tid.13636