Influenza virus pneumonia after renal transplant

A 40-year-old woman who had recently undergone kidney transplantation was succesfully treated for diffuse influenza virus pneumonia. The illness was acute, with rapid onset, high fever, nonproductive cough, dyspnea, cyanosis, crepitations and rales over both lung bases, and associated arterial hypoxemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Prophylactic use of antibiotics to prevent superimposed bacterial infection and reduction of immunosuppressive therapy to minimal dosage during the critical phase of the respiratory infection contributed to the patient's survival. An episode of graft rejection was reversed by resumption of immunosuppressive therapy at standard dosage levels.