Latest news with #Strongyloides
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Kidney transplant turns dangerous after parasite found in donor organ
A routine kidney transplant meant to save a man's life nearly cost him everything—because of a parasite no one saw coming. Two months after undergoing what should have been a life-improving surgery, a 61-year-old man was rushed back to the hospital in distress. He wasn't just feeling unwell—he was vomiting, severely fatigued, constantly thirsty, and urinating excessively. As his symptoms escalated, his oxygen levels dropped and fluid began to accumulate in his lungs. Despite being placed on a feeding tube, his condition worsened. Doctors transferred him to intensive care and began a frantic search for answers. According to a detailed case report in the New England Journal of Medicine, physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital suspected an infection but were faced with a daunting challenge: the man was on powerful immunosuppressive drugs following his transplant, which meant nearly any infectious agent could be the cause. What did they find? Dr. Camille Kotton, Clinical Director of the Transplant and Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases division at Mass General, was part of the team trying to find the cause. As reported by Ars Technica, she began by ruling out likely viral infections, since the patient was already on preventative medications. But when she noticed two unusual signs—a significant rise in eosinophils (a type of white blood cell linked to parasitic infections) and a reddish-purple rash on the patient's abdomen—her attention turned toward a lesser-considered threat: a parasitic roundworm called Strongyloides. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo This worm typically infects the gastrointestinal tract and can become deadly when undiagnosed in immunocompromised individuals. To follow her hunch, Dr. Kotton contacted the organ-procurement organization and learned that the donor had lived in the Caribbean, a region where Strongyloides is endemic. The donor's blood hadn't been tested for the parasite prior to organ recovery, but stored samples later revealed antibodies against it. Meanwhile, the transplant recipient's pre-transplant blood was negative—confirming that the infection had come from the donor. What was the path to recovery? T ests soon uncovered worm larvae in the patient's lungs and stool. The treatment required ivermectin, a deworming medication approved by the FDA only for oral use in humans. With special approval, doctors administered the drug subcutaneously. Slowly, the patient began to recover. Then came another shock: the recipient of the donor's other kidney had also fallen critically ill. When doctors exchanged notes, they found the same parasite at work. Fortunately, both patients survived. In response to the case, the United Network for Organ Sharing has since revised its transplant screening guidelines, now recommending universal Strongyloides testing for donors from high-risk regions. The case serves as a stark reminder that even life-saving procedures can carry hidden dangers—and that vigilance doesn't end with the operating room. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
NDTV
20 hours ago
- Health
- NDTV
Kidney Transplant Nightmare: Parasite From Donor Nearly Costs Man His Life
A 61-year-old man thought he was on his way to recovery after receiving a donated kidney, but his life soon took a turn for the worse. Two months after the transplant procedure, the man was back in the hospital -- feeling tired and nauseous while vomiting. Additionally, he was thirsty and urinating all the time. As per the case report in this week's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, the patient's oxygen levels in the blood had started to fall and the lungs were filled with fluid. Doctors inserted a feeding tube, but the oxygen levels and blood pressure kept falling. Eventually, he was admitted to the ICU. With the patient's condition deteriorating, the doctors at Mass General started the process of elimination to figure out the root cause of the problem. The wife was contacted for more information, while the regional organ-procurement organisation that provided the kidney was also called up for more insights. In the meantime, the lab reports suggested that the patient had some sort of infection. However, since the patient was a recent kidney recipient and on a variety of immunosuppressive drugs, the list of infectious possibilities was "extensive". Dr Camille Kotton, Clinical Director of the hospital's Transplant and Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases division, went through the patient's history and ruled out herpesviruses and cytomegalovirus, as some of the medications would have proactively prevented these infections, according to a report in Ars Technia. The investigation While analysing the patient, Dr Kotton noticed that he had elevated levels of eosinophils, white blood cells that can increase for various reasons, including parasitic infections. He also had a reddish-purple rash over his abdomen, which prompted Dr Kotton to suspect a parasitic infection. Strongyloides, a parasitic roundworm that infects the gastrointestinal tract, was suspected as the cause of the patient's problems. To test the hypothesis, Dr Kotton called the organ-procurement organisation and found that the donor was from the Caribbean, where Strongyloides are present. The donor's blood was not tested for the infection before the transplant, but blood samples showed antibodies against the parasite. The transplant patient's pre-transplant blood samples, on the other hand, were negative. After the confirmation, doctors conducted the tests, which revealed that the patient had worm larvae in the lungs and stool. To treat such a widespread infection, they had to use a deworming drug called ivermectin, which is only approved by the Food and Drug Administration for oral formulations in humans. After receiving special approvals, the ivermectin was delivered subcutaneously to the patient. While the patient recovered, doctors received a message that the person who received the donor's other kidney was also critically ill. The doctors shared notes, and both patients managed to make a full recovery. The case prompted the United Network for Organ Sharing to update its policy to recommend universal screening for Strongyloides.
