Pseudallescheria boydii (Petriellidium boydii) infection of the orbit

A 10-year-old male developed a chronic orbital infection following penetrating trauma and retention of an orbital foreign body. Diagnosis of infection with Pseudallescheria boydii (Petriellidium boydii) was made by fungal smear and culture. Sensitivity tests indicated the organism was resistant to amphotericin B. Surgical debridement of the inferior orbit and removal of the foreign body was followed by a six-week course of intravenous miconazole. The patient has shown no signs of recurrence in a two-year follow-up period. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of orbital infection with Pseudallescheria boydii, although the organism has been reported in cornea, ocular, and peri-orbital sinus infections.     

Post-craniotomy wound infection caused by Pseudallescheria boydii. Case report

The authors describe the first reported case of post-craniotomy wound infection due to Pseudallescheria boydii. The patient was a 24-year-old man who sustained a direct blunt injury to the calvaria, resulting in a large subdural hematoma that was surgically evacuated. Subsequently, the surgical wound became infected with a fungus, P. boydii, and was successfully treated with intravenous miconazole.     

Testicular involvement in disseminated fungal infection by Pseudallescheria boydii

We report the first case of appendiceal mucinous cystadenoma associated with the kidney. A 57-year-old man with chronic renal failure presented with a right renal mass. During laparoscopic nephrectomy, frozen analysis of a tubular structure extending from the mass showed appendiceal tissue. The mass, appendix, and what was believed to be the right kidney were removed. Pathologic examination demonstrated mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix. No renal tissue was identified, but the patient refused further treatment. This case demonstrates that mucinous cystadenomas arising from retroperitoneal structures might mimic renal neoplasms and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic renal masses.     

Vertebral osteomyelitis secondary to Pseudallescheria boydii

Because Pseudallescheria boydii vertebral osteomyelitis is rare and frequently resistant to available antifungal agents, the proper treatment of this lesion has not been defined. To better determine the best treatment of this lesion, the authors evaluated a case P. boydii vertebral osteomyelitis and reviewed the literature. A 48-year-old man had isolated thoracic vertebral osteomyelitis resulting from P. boydii and associated severe thoracic back pain and proximal lower extremity pain and weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging studies revealed continued collapse of the T6--T7 vertebrae despite previous posterior debridement and appropriate antifungal chemotherapy. On admission to the authors' institution, the patient underwent a right thoracotomy, anterior debridement with transthoracic T6--T7 corpectomies and strut grafting, followed by posterior fusion and stabilization with pedicle screws. After operation, the patient's pain, hyperalgesia, and lower extremity symptoms resolved. He was treated with a 12-month course of itraconazole. Imaging and laboratory studies show no evidence of recurrence. P. boydii vertebral osteomyelitis can have devastating neurologic sequelae if not treated properly. The frequent lack of response of this unusual fungal infection to systemic therapy requires frequent serial follow-up examinations. Patients with evidence of progression on imaging studies or neurologic findings should undergo early and aggressive surgical debridement.     

Long-term survival after retransplantation of the liver.

OBJECTIVE: The authors determined the long-term outcome of patients undergoing hepatic retransplantation at their institution. Donor, operative, and recipient factors impacting on outcome as well as parameters of patient resource utilization were examined. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Hepatic retransplantation provides the only available option for liver transplant recipients in whom an existing graft has failed. However, such patients are known to exhibit patient and graft survival after retransplantation that is inferior to that expected using the same organs in naiive recipients. The critical shortage of donor organs and resultant prolonged patient waiting periods before transplantation prompted the authors to evaluate the results of a liberal policy of retransplantation and to examine the factors contributing to the inferior outcome observed in retransplanted patients. METHODS: A total of 2053 liver transplants were performed at the UCLA Medical Center during a 13-year period from February 1, 1984, to October 1, 1996. A total of 356 retransplants were performed in 299 patients (retransplant rate = 17%). Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with survival. Additionally, a case-control comparison was performed between the last 150 retransplanted patients and 150 primarily transplanted patients who were matched for age and United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) status. Differences between these groups in donor, operative, and recipient variables were studied for their correlation with patient survival. Days of hospital and intensive care unit stay, and hospital charges incurred during the transplant admissions were compared for retransplanted patients and control patients. RESULTS: Survival of retransplanted patients at 1, 5, and 10 years was 62%, 47%, and 45%, respectively. This survival is significantly less than that seen in patients undergoing primary hepatic transplantation at the authors' center during the same period (83%, 74%, and 68%). A number of variables proved to have a significant impact on outcome including recipient age group, interval to retransplantation, total number of grafts, and recipient UNOS status. Recipient primary diagnosis, cause for retransplantation, and whether the patient was retransplanted before or after June 1, 1992, did not reach statistical significance as factors influencing survival. In the case-control comparison, the authors found that of the more than 25 variables studied, only preoperative ventilator status showed both a significant difference between control patients and retransplanted patients and also was a factor predictive of survival in retransplanted patients. Retransplant patients had significantly longer hospital and intensive care unit stays and accumulated total hospitalization charges more than 170% of those by control patients. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic retransplantation, although life-saving in almost 50% of patients with a failing liver allograft, is costly and uses scarce donor organs inefficiently. The data presented define patient characteristics and preoperative variables that impact patient outcome and should assist in the rational application of retransplantation.     

Mixed allergic bronchopulmonary fungal disease due to Pseudallescheria boydii and Aspergillus.

A 24 year old asthmatic woman with mixed allergic bronchopulmonary fungal disease due to Pseudallescheria boydii and Aspergillus is reported. No previous cases due to P boydii have been described. This patient provides evidence that fungi other than Aspergillus species may cause the condition.     

Pseudallescheria boydii knee arthritis in a young immunocompetent adult two years after a compound patellar fracture.

Pseudallescheria boydii arthritis of the knee developed in a 32-year-old immunocompetent man 2 years after a compound patellar fracture contaminated with soil. No other potential portal of entry was identified, suggesting that the fungus remained latent for 2 years. Pseudallescheria arthritis often occurs after a prolonged latency period, causing minimal symptoms that contrast with the frequently severe radiological changes. Although this organism often shows limited sensitivity to most antifungal agents, our patient achieved a full recovery after surgical synovectomy and 6 months of itraconazole therapy (400 mg/ d). This case illustrates the importance of testing for fungi in patients with torpid arthritis, particularly when mild clinical symptoms contrast with severe bone and joint destruction.     

Surgical treatment for a case of postoperative Pseudallescheria boydii endophthalmitis

Pseudallescheria boydii (P. boydii) is an uncommon ocular pathogen which previously has been identified in only 10 of 905 fungal isolates identified by the Sid Richardson Microbiology Laboratory at the Cullen Eye Institute of Baylor College of Medicine. Furthermore, only one case of postoperative P. boydii endophthalmitis and four cases of endogenous P. boydii endophthalmitis have been reported. Three of the four patients with endogenous endophthalmitis died within 4 weeks of diagnosis. We describe a second case of postoperative endophthalmitis due to this fungus. The infection was successfully eradicated following vitrectomy, corneoscleral resection, and patch graft, in addition to intraocular, topical, and oral antifungal medication. Although in vitro sensitivities are variable, P. boydii is known to be relatively resistant to amphotericin B. This points to the importance of proper cultures and sensitivities when treating cases of suspected fungal endophthalmitis. Unfortunately, the patient's eye became phthisical 6 months following the initial intervention.     

Factors that identify survival after liver retransplantation for allograft failure caused by recurrent hepatitis C infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is becoming the most common indication for liver retransplantation (ReLTx). This study was a retrospective review of the medical records of liver transplant patients at our institution to determine factors that would identify the best candidates for ReLTx resulting from allograft failure because of HCV recurrence. The patients were divided into 2 groups on the basis of indication for initial liver transplant. Group 1 included ReLTx patients whose initial indication for LTx was HCV. Group 2 included patients who received ReLTx who did not have a history of HCV. We defined chronic allograft dysfunction (AD) as patients with persistent jaundice (> 30 days) beginning 6 months after primary liver transplant in the absence of other reasons. HCV was the primary indication for initial orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in 491/1114 patients (44%) from July 1996 to February 2004. The number of patients with AD undergoing ReLTx in Groups 1 and 2 was 22 and 12, respectively. The overall patient and allograft survival at 1 year was 50% and 75% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = .04). The rates of primary nonfunction and technical problems after ReLTx were not different between the groups. However, the incidence of recurrent AD was higher in Group 1 at 32% versus 17% in Group 2 (P = .04). Important factors that predicted a successful ReLTx included physical condition at the time of ReLTx (P = .002) and Child-Turcotte-Pugh score (P = .008). In conclusion, HCV is associated with an increased incidence of chronic graft destruction with a negative effect on long-term results after ReLTx. The optimum candidate for ReLTx is a patient who can maintain normal physical activity. As the allograft shortage continues, the optimal use of cadaveric livers continues to be of primary importance. The use of deceased donor livers in patients with allograft failure caused by HCV remains a highly controversial issue.     

Hepatitis C is a risk factor for death after liver retransplantation.

Retransplantation for liver allograft failure associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been increasing due to nearly universal posttransplant HCV recurrence and has been demonstrated to be associated with poor outcomes. We report on the risk factors for death after retransplantation among liver recipients with HCV. A retrospective cohort of liver transplant recipients who underwent retransplantation between January 1997 and December 2002 was identified in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database. Cox regression was used to assess the relative effect of HCV diagnosis on mortality risk after retransplantation and was adjusted for multiple covariates. Of 1,718 liver retransplantations during the study period, 464 (27%) were associated with a diagnosis of HCV infection. Based on Cox regression, retransplant recipients with HCV had a 30% higher covariate-adjusted mortality risk than those without HCV diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-1.54; P = 0.002). Other covariates associated with significant relative risk of death after retransplantation included older recipient age, presence in an intensive care unit (ICU), serum creatinine, and donor age. Additional regression analysis revealed that the increase in mortality risk associated with HCV was concentrated between 3 and 24 months postretransplantation, among patients age 18 to 39 at retransplant, and in patients retransplanted during the years 2000 to 2002. In conclusion, HCV liver recipients account for a considerable proportion of all retransplantations performed. Surprisingly, younger age predicted a higher mortality for recipients with HCV undergoing liver retransplantation. This may reflect a willingness to retransplant younger patients with an increased severity of illness or a more virulent HCV infection in this population. Although HCV was predictive of an increased risk of death, consideration of other characteristics of HCV patients, including donor and recipient age and need for preoperative ICU care may identify those at significantly higher risk.     

Recurrent herpes simplex virus hepatitis after liver retransplantation despite acyclovir therapy.

Herpes virus hepatitis (HSV) represents a form of acute necrotizing hepatitis, which most frequently develops in immunocompromised patients. Therapeutic options include high-dose intravenous acyclovir and liver transplantation. We report the first case of recurrent HSV hepatitis after liver retransplantation, which occurred despite continuous administration of high-dose intravenous antiviral therapy. Because explant histology pointed to initial therapy response, we thought that the reason for recurrence might be due to acyclovir resistance. Most acyclovir resistance is caused by inactivating mutations in the herpes virus thymidine kinase gene. HSV infection was detected by histology and proofed by immunohistochemistry. PCR amplification of the herpes virus thymidine kinase gene was performed on histology specimens to demonstrate the course of viral infection in liver tissue. Genotypic resistance testing of the herpes virus was performed by sequencing the thymidine kinase amplicon. In serial biopsy, HSV-DNA sequences were only detectable when histology revealed herpes hepatitis. Whereas the primary explant exhibited the wild-type thymidine kinase gene, a biopsy of the second graft one month after retransplantation, which showed recurrent herpes virus hepatitis, had a single base insertion within a homopolymeric cytosine stretch. This mutation causes a frame shift leading to a premature stop codon and results in a known acyclovir-resistant herpes strain. In conclusion, we believe that testing for acyclovir-resistant herpes strains should be considered in high-risk patients in whom viral clearance is not achieved serologically to prevent fatal recurrence of disease by using antiviral drugs such as inhibitors of HSV-DNA polymerase or viral helicase primase inhibitors.     

Influence of selected factors on survival after liver retransplantation

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the survival of adult liver retransplant recipients depending on selected factors: time from the primary transplantation, cold ischemia time, indications for retransplantation, patient age and United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) status.

Patients and Methods

Between December 1989 and March 2011, we performed 43 orthotopic liver retransplantations (re-OLTs) among patients aged 20-62 years including 24 women and 19 men. The cold ischemia time was 250-820 minutes. UNOS status before re-OLT: UNOS 1 (n = 19; 44%) UNOS 2A (n = 15; 35%), and UNOS 2B (n = 4; 9%). The time from OLT to re-OLT was 1-2, 146 days. The indications for re-OLT were arterial thrombosis (n = 14; 33%), anastomotic biliary complication (n = 3; 7%), recurrence of the original disease (n = 9; 21%), hepatic vein thrombosis (n = 1; 2%), primary nonfunction (PNF) dysfunction (n = 2; [5%] /6 [14%]), de novo hepatitis C cirrhosis (n = 2; 5%) and other etiologies (n = 6; 14%).

Results

The 6-year survival among the primary OLT group was 80% compared with 58% among the re-OLT group (P = .0001). One-year survivals in the re-OLT group according to UNOS status 1, 2A, and 2B were 47%, 60%, and 75%, respectively (P = .475). There was a low negative correlation between survival time and time between OLT and re-OLT. There was a low positive correlation between survival time and cold ischemia time. There was a low negative correlation between survival time and patient age.

Conclusions

There was a significant difference in survival between OLT and re-OLT. There was a correlation between survival time and time to re-OLTx; a shorter time corresponded to longer survival. There was a poor correlation between survival time and patient age. UNOS status before re-OLT and indication for re-OLTx influenced survival.     

Outcome of liver retransplantation in children.

Irreversible liver graft failure is a life-threatening complication. We reviewed the first 200 pediatric liver transplantations in Birmingham. Forty-one children developed primary graft failure, 9 of whom developed secondary graft failure. The main indications for graft failure were primary nonfunction (PRNF; 8 patients), vascular complications (VASC; 23 patients), and chronic rejection (CHRE; 19 patients). Thirty-two children underwent retransplantation (ReTx) (21 children received reduced grafts; 11 children, whole hepatic grafts). Patient survival was significantly worse for retransplant recipients compared with children receiving a single graft (63% v 76. 5% actuarial patient survival at 1 year; P <.05). Primary graft 1-year actuarial survival was 74% in first grafts compared with 47% for regrafts (P <.05), but improved with time. The graft 1-year survival rate was 55% for whole grafts and 45% for reduced and/or split grafts in the first 100 grafts compared with 83% and 66% in the second 100 grafts, respectively (P <.01). Emergency ReTx within a month of transplantation was associated with more complications and a worse outcome (1-year survival rate, 37%) compared with patients who underwent ReTx later (1-year survival rate, 72%; P <. 01). The incidence of primary graft failure decreased from 33% in the first 100 grafts to 16% in the second 100 grafts (P <.01), as did the incidence of PRNF, which decreased from 8% to 0% (P <.05). Although the rates of graft failure from VASC decreased from 15% to 8% (P =.2) and CHRE decreased from 11% to 8% (P =.6), neither reached statistical significance. The improved results overall are because of advances in surgical techniques, intensive care management, and graft preservation and refinements in immunosuppression. We conclude that ReTx for a child with primary graft failure is justified.     

再次肝移植

在首次移植失败后,再次肝脏移植是挽救移植肝失功受体病人生命的唯一手段。随着肝移植受体数量的积累,再次肝移植的数量也必将越来越多,再次肝移植越来越成为一个令人关注的问题。近年来随着供体紧缺和新型免疫抑制剂的研发,再次肝移植的适应证发生了明显变化,而总的再移植发生率逐步下降。严格评估再次肝移植术前受体的状况,充分考虑再次肝移植的危险因素对提高再次肝移植术后的生存率尤为重要。手术时机和适应证的正确把握、手术技巧的提高是再次肝移植手术成功和提高术后生存率的关键。     

肝移植术后缺血型胆管狭窄再次肝移植治疗分析

目的探讨肝移植术后缺血型胆管狭窄患者行再次肝移植的疗效。方法回顾性分析天津市第一中心医院48例缺血型胆管狭窄患者再次原位肝移植的资料,分析其预后及影响因素。结果40例患者再次肝移植前有介入治疗史。术中出血量为850～12000ml,中位值为3000ml;术中用血量为600～13300ml,中位值为3200ml;手术平均时间为（12.00±4.35）h。48例患者随访时间为14～41个月,中位随访时间为25个月;3个月、1年及2年累计生存率分别为75%、73%和68%,中位存活时间为40个月;9例死于感染及多器官功能衰竭;无并发症、单一并发症、多种并发症的生存曲线差异有统计学意义（P=0.005）。结论再次肝移植是挽救缺血性胆管狭窄患者无法行介入治疗或介入治疗失败的有效手段。     

Efficacy of MELD score in predicting survival after liver retransplantation

OBJECTIVE: We retrospectively investigated the efficacy of the MELD score to predict the outcome of liver retransplantation and serve as selection criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1987 to 2003, the 765 liver transplantations included 87 patients (11.4%) who received a second graft. In addition to graft and patient survivals, ROC curves were used to establish the best MELD score to select cases with poor outcomes. RESULTS: Indications for retransplantation were: 38 (43.7%) surgical complications; 12 (13.8%) chronic rejections; 15 (17.2%) disease recurrences; and 22 (15.3%) primary graft nonfunction. Overall patient survivals at 1, 3, and 5 years were 62.4%, 50.7%, and 49.1%, respectively. A MELD score of 25, calculated by ROC curves, significantly predicted graft and patient survival (44.2% vs 22.5%, P < .05 and 58.6% vs 27.8%, P < .005). During the first 30 postoperative days, patients with a MELD higher than 25 lost the second graft in 48% of cases compared to 16% in the other group (P < .005). Patients retransplanted for primary graft nonfunction showed significant lower 5-year survival rates than those for other indications (28.6% vs 54.5%, P < .05) and higher mean MELD score (30.7 vs 21.9, P < .05). CONCLUSION: A MELD score of 25 is a valid cut-off to predict the outcome of retransplantations, it may be useful to select patients among those who require a second graft. Cases with primary graft nonfunction displayed lower survival, because of their compromised clinical status as evidenced by their high MELD scores.     

再次肝移植治疗首次肝移植术后肝癌肝内复发的效果分析

目的 探讨肝癌肝移植术后复发肝癌的病理特点及再次肝移植治疗的意义及其预后.方法 回顾性分析肝移植术后21例肝癌复发患者的临床资料,其中9例接受再次肝移植治疗,12例行姑息治疗.所有患者原发病均为乙型肝炎后肝硬化合并肝癌,肝移植术后肿瘤均为肝内复发,无法局部切除.结果 9例患者首次和再次肝移植时肿瘤病理分析,肿瘤均为肝细胞肝癌,最大肿瘤直径分别平均为6.2 cm和4.8 cm,多发肿瘤者分别占67％和89％,有微血管侵犯者分别占100％和56％,肿瘤分化为Ⅱ级、Ⅲ级和Ⅳ级者分别为33％、67％、0和22％、22％、56％,复发肝脏肿瘤的平均最大直径和分化程度与原发肝脏肿瘤比较,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.01).首次肝移植术后再次移植组患者无瘤存活时间中位数为15.0个月,再次肝移植术后无瘤存活时间中位数为2.5个月,再次移植术后存活时间中位数为5.8个月,总体存活时间中位数为21.8个月;姑息治疗组受者肝移植术后无瘤存活时间中位数为13.0个月,总体存活时间中位数为17.6个月;再次移植组和姑息治疗组术后1、2、3年累积存活率分别为89％、44％、33％和91％、45％、9％,两组间存活率比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 血管侵犯为肝癌复发的高危因素;复发肿瘤分化程度更低;首次肝移植术后肝癌肝内复发可能是术前和术中肿瘤全身播散的早期临床特点和局部表现,不建议再次肝移植治疗肝癌肝移植术后肝癌肝内复发.