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Sarcoidosis after renal transplantation
R J Schmidt1, F H Bender, W W Chang
1Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology and Pulmonary/Critical Care, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown 26506, USA. rschmid@wvu.edu
Transplantation
|November 26, 1999
Summary
A renal transplant patient developed sarcoidosis presenting as pleural effusion. Prompt corticosteroid treatment led to rapid resolution and sustained remission, highlighting sarcoidosis as a treatable condition in immunosuppressed individuals.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Nephrology
- Immunology
Background:
- Case study of a 41-year-old renal transplant recipient on tacrolimus immunosuppression.
- Patient presented with digital clubbing and a large pleural effusion detected on chest radiography.
Observation:
- Pleural effusion analysis revealed a lymphocytic exudate.
- Biopsies of pleural and lung tissues showed noncaseating granulomas.
- Cultures for viral, fungal, and bacterial pathogens were negative.
Findings:
- Diagnosis of sarcoidosis was confirmed by noncaseating granulomas and exclusion of other causes.
- The effusion resolved rapidly following corticosteroid therapy.
Implications:
- This case highlights sarcoidosis as a potential diagnosis in renal transplant recipients presenting with unexplained pleural effusion.
- Early diagnosis and corticosteroid treatment can lead to favorable outcomes and symptom resolution in such patients.