Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025
16:15
Mouse Kidney Transplantation: Models of Allograft Rejection
Published on: October 11, 2014
20.9K
Tubulointerstitial Nephritis Post-Microsporidium Infection in a Combined Liver-Kidney Transplanted Patient: A Case
Alfonso Gindl-Bracho1, Hector O Rivera-Villegas2, Norma O Uribe-Uribe3
1Departamento de Nefrología y Metabolismo Mineral, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán", Mexico City, Mexico.
Nephrology (Carlton, Vic.)
|September 3, 2025
Summary
Microsporidia infections can cause serious kidney problems in transplant patients. Early diagnosis and treatment with albendazole improved graft function in a rare combined liver-kidney transplant case.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Nephrology
- Transplantation Immunology
Background:
- Microsporidia are opportunistic pathogens increasingly recognized in immunocompromised individuals.
- Solid organ transplant recipients, particularly those undergoing combined liver-kidney transplantation (CLKT), are at risk for opportunistic infections.
Observation:
- A 55-year-old male CLKT recipient presented with diarrhea, bloating, and acute kidney injury (AKI) one month post-transplant.
- Kidney biopsy showed granulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) with significant fibrosis and tubular atrophy.
- Stool examination confirmed Microsporidia infection.
Findings:
- Microsporidia infection was diagnosed as the cause of AKI and graft dysfunction in this CLKT recipient.
- Treatment with albendazole resulted in gradual recovery of renal function over six months.
- This represents the first reported case of Microsporidia infection in a CLKT recipient worldwide.
Implications:
- Microsporidial infections pose a rare but significant threat to graft survival and renal function in CLKT recipients.
- Prompt diagnosis through stool examination and kidney biopsy is crucial for effective management.
- Combined therapeutic strategies, including antiparasitic treatment and immunosuppression adjustment, are vital for favorable outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Kidney Transplant II: Surgical Procedure
75
Preoperative ManagementThe primary goals of preoperative management in kidney transplantation are to optimize the patient’s metabolic state and prepare them for surgery through diet adjustments, necessary dialysis, and tailored medical treatment. This phase also involves comprehensive infection screening and patient education about the surgical procedure and postoperative care to improve outcomes and adherence.Medical ManagementA comprehensive evaluation is required for both the living...
75
01:28Kidney Transplant I: Introduction
60
A kidney transplant is a surgical approach that involves replacing a non-functioning kidney with a healthy one from a donor. This procedure is often a treatment option for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The method requires careful recipient selection, including evaluating various medical and psychosocial factors. These criteria vary between transplant centers but generally include assessments of the patient's overall health, adherence to medical recommendations, and lifestyle...
60
01:16Kidney Transplant III: Nursing Management
80
Postoperative Nursing Management for Kidney Transplant PatientsPostoperative nursing management care includes monitoring the surgical site, encouraging early movement, and promoting lung health through breathing exercises. Nurses also administer prescribed medications like H2-blockers, such as famotidine, or proton pump inhibitors, like omeprazole, to help prevent gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding. Fungal infections in the mouth and bladder can result from immunosuppressive and antibiotic...
80
01:24Nephrotic Syndrome I : Introduction
27
Nephrotic Syndrome is a chronic kidney disorder defined by clinical findings such as severe proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and edema. These symptoms result from damage to the glomeruli, the kidney’s filtering units, increasing their permeability to proteins.Definition and Meaning:Proteinuria, defined as the loss of more than 3.5 grams of protein per day in adults, is a crucial feature of nephrotic syndrome. This condition is often accompanied by edema, the accumulation of...
27
01:29Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
321
Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
321
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
111
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
111