Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a renal transplanted patient

A Biobehavioral Perspective on Caring for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Survivors with Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Among the potential complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is common and associated with significant physical and psychosocial symptom burden. Despite substantial advances in GVHD treatment, the global immune suppression that frequently accompanies GVHD treatment also contributes to high rates of physical and emotional suffering and mortality. The complex manifestations of GVHD and its treatment warrant a multidisciplinary team-based approach to managing patients' multi-organ system comorbidities. A biobehavioral framework can enhance our understanding of the complex association between medications, physical symptoms, and psychosocial distress in patients with GVHD. Hence, for this perspective, we highlight the importance of addressing both the physical and psychosocial needs experienced by patients with GVHD and provide guidance on how to approach and manage those symptoms and concerns as part of comprehensive cancer care.

Post reversible encephalopathy syndrome attributed to mycophenolate mofetil used in the treatment of SLE: A case report and review of literature

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare clinical disease, which has been seen in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Its main manifestations are seizure, headache and other neurological symptoms. While the condition is reversible, if not treated in time, there can be risks of cerebral haemorrhage. We report here the case of a young patient with SLE who developed PRES after receiving the immunosuppressant, mycophenolate mofetil. Neurological symptoms, signs, or changes in a patient's condition that cannot be explained by lupus, should alert physicians to the possibility of the drug causing PRES, and prompt discontinuation should ensue.

Reactivation of latent infections in solid organ transplant recipients from sub-Saharan Africa: What should be remembered?

International migration from Sub-Saharan African countries to the European Union and the United States has significantly increased over the past decades. Although the vast majority of these immigrants are young and healthy people, a minority can be affected by chronic conditions eventually leading to solid organ transplantation (SOT). Importantly, these candidates can bear geographically restricted fungal and parasitic latent infections that can reactivate after the procedure. An appropriate evaluation before transplantation followed by treatment, whenever necessary, is essential to minimize such risk, as covered in the present review. In short, infection due to helminths (Schistosoma spp. and Strongyloides stercoralis) and intestinal protozoa (Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia or Cyclospora cayetanensis) can be diagnosed by multiple direct stool examination, serological assays and stool antigen testing. Leishmaniasis can be assessed by means of serology, followed by nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) if the former test is positive. Submicroscopic malaria should be ruled out by NAAT. Screening for Histoplasma spp. or Cryptococcus spp. is not routinely indicated. Consultation with an Infectious Diseases specialist is recommended in order to adjust preemptive treatment among Sub-Saharan African SOT candidates and recipients.

Meta-analysis of cognitive functioning in patients following kidney transplantation

Background

There is mixed evidence regarding the nature of cognitive function in patients who have undergone renal transplantation. The aim of this meta-analysis was to examine which cognitive domains are impacted following kidney transplantation and how performance compares with non-transplanted patients or healthy controls/normative data.

Method

A systematic search was conducted using keywords within three databases (Embase, MEDLINE and PsychINFO), yielding 458 unique studies, 10 of which met the inclusion criteria. Neuropsychological tests were grouped into nine cognitive domains and three separate analyses were undertaken within each domain: (i) within subjects pre- versus post-transplant, (ii) transplanted versus non-transplanted patients and (iii) transplanted versus healthy matched controls and standardized normative data.

Results

Transplanted patients showed moderate to large improvements in the domains of general cognitive status (g = 0.526), information and motor speed (g = 0.558), spatial reasoning (g = 0.376), verbal memory (g = 0.759) and visual memory (g = 0.690) when compared with their pre-operative scores. Test scores in the same five domains were significantly better in post-transplanted patients when compared with dialysis-dependant or conservatively managed chronic kidney disease patients. However, post-transplanted patients’ performance was significantly low compared with that of healthy controls (and standardized normative data) in the domains of executive functioning (g = −0.283), verbal fluency (g = −0.657) and language (g = −0.573).

Conclusions

Two key issues arise from this review. First, domain-specific cognitive improvement occurs in patients after successful transplantation. Nevertheless, transplanted patients still performed significantly below healthy controls in some domains. Second, there are important shortcomings in existing studies; the length of follow-up is typically short and only limited neuropsychological test batteries are employed. These factors are important in order to support the recovery of cognitive function among patients following renal transplant.

Severe Complications from an Unexpectedly High Serum Mycophenolic Acid Concentration in a Patient with Renal Failure Secondary to Lupus Nephritis: A Case Report

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is used widely to treat lupus nephritis and is considered safer than other immunosuppressive drugs. Reports on severe complications related to MMF are sparse. We report a case of a patient with lupus nephritis in whom severe complications were possibly caused by MMF. The patient was a 17-year-old girl who received a diagnosis of lupus nephritis at the age of 14 years and had been taking steroid and immunosuppressive agents since then. One week after starting MMF 1 g/day instead of mizoribine owing to symptom relapse and serologic data deterioration, she presented with seizure, accompanied by leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and renal failure. We discontinued MMF because she had extremely high serum mycophenolate acid concentration (88 µg/mL). A few weeks later, she recovered without any complications and was discharged. Although rare, clinicians should be aware that serum mycophenolate acid concentration may become extremely high in the setting of acute kidney injury. In such circumstances, they should perform serum concentration monitoring to avoid possible adverse events.

Mycophenolate-Induced Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome

A 29-year-old woman presented with diffuse anasarca and shortness of breath. Workup revealed a creatinine of 3.3 and a glomerular filtration rate of 17. The patient was also found to be pancytopenic with evidence of hemolytic anemia. A renal biopsy showed evidence of stage IV lupus nephritis with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Her lupus was further classified as ANA negative and anti-dsDNA positive. Mycophenolate and triweekly hemodialysis were started along with a steroid burst of methylprednisolone 1 g for 3 days followed by prednisone 60 mg daily. Four days after discharge, the patient represented with a witnessed 3-minute seizure involving bowel incontinence, altered mental status, and tongue biting. She was given 2 mg intravenous lorazepam and loaded with 1000 mg levetiracetam for seizure prophylaxis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head revealed bilateral posterior hemispheric subcortical edema, and the diagnosis of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome was made. Mycophenolate was immediately discontinued and replaced with cyclophosphamide. Strict blood pressure control below 140/90 mm Hg was maintained initially with intravenous nicardipine drip and then transitioned to oral nifedipine, clonidine, losartan, and minoxidil. A repeat head magnetic resonance imaging 8 days later showed resolved subcortical edema consistent with the patient's improved mental status. No permanent neurologic sequelae were recorded as a result of this hospital episode.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome After Transplantation: a Review

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare neurological disease. Recently, an increase in the number of transplantations has led to more cases being associated with PRES than what was previously reported. Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are major risk factors for PRES in posttransplantation patients. The mechanisms of the development of PRES remain to be unclear. The typical clinical symptoms of PRES include seizures, acute encephalopathy syndrome, and visual symptoms. The hyperintense signal on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery image is the characteristic of the imaging appearance in these patients. In addition, other abnormal signals distributed in multiple locations are also reported in some atypical cases. Unfortunately, PRES is often not recognized or diagnosed too late due to complicated differential diagnoses, such as ischemic stroke, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, and neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, this review emphasizes the importance of considering the possibility of PRES when neurological disturbances appear after solid organ transplantation or hematopoietic cell transplantation. Moreover, this review demonstrates the molecular mechanisms of PRES associated with CNIs after transplantation, which aims to help clinicians further understand PRES in the transplantation era.

Clinical Management of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare but serious complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). Among others, calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) for prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) may promote the development of PRES, but the pathomechanism is still controversial. Discontinuation of CNI facilitates remission of symptoms but might contribute to the unfavorable prognosis of PRES due to an elevated incidence of GvHD.

METHODS

This is a case series of 7 patients with PRES from a retrospective analysis of 146 consecutive patients who received alloHSCT for hematologic malignancies.

RESULTS

At the onset of PRES, all patients presented a systemic infection, while no influence was seen for underlying disease, conditioning regimen, donor type, or GvHD. Discontinuation of CNI and control of the blood pressure reversed neurological symptoms in 6 patients, while 1 patient died from septic multiorgan failure. After bridging with prednisolone and/or mycophenolic acid, replacement of CNI by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor everolimus effectively prevented severe GvHD without recurrence of PRES.

CONCLUSIONS

A systemic infection/inflammation may be an important cause of PRES. Prophylaxis of GvHD by the mTOR inhibitor everolimus in case of PRES after alloHSCT demonstrated promising results but needs to be validated in larger cohorts.

Prolonged pentobarbital-induced coma for the treatment of severe seizures related to posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome

In this report, we describe a case of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a female patient after deceased donor liver transplantation. She developed posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome on postoperative day 3 and did not improve despite adjustments in immunosuppressive therapy. The patient had symptoms of severe brain edema requiring maximal therapy, which included cooling, mannitol, 3% saline, and a pentobarbital infusion. Attempts to lighten the level of sedation failed because of recurring intractable seizure activity. Reductions in therapeutic support were ultimately successful after 62 days of continuous pentobarbital therapy. The patient awoke neurologically intact and was discharged to a rehabilitation center in good condition.