Malaria and encephalopathy in a heart transplant recipient: A case report in the context of multiorgan donation. Issue 3 (8th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vernaza, Armando; Pinilla‐Monsalve, Gabriel; Cañas, Felipe; Carrillo, Diana; David López, Juan; Flórez, Noel; Gomez‐Mesa, Juan Esteban
• Is Part Of: Transplant infectious disease. Volume 23:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-02-08
• Subjects: heart transplant -- malaria -- posterior reversible encephalopathy; Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc -- Complications -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 617.01
• DOI: 10.1111/tid.13565
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1398-2273

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Malaria is an endemic infection in tropical circles. It can be transmitted from mosquitoes bite, but exceptional cases have been attributed to multiorgan transplantation. Case report: This is a 34‐year‐old woman who received a heart transplant for final‐stage dilated cardiomyopathy. Over the hospitalization, she developed fever, cephalalgia, and tonic‐clonic seizures with MRI findings compatible with posterior reversible encephalopathy. A thick blood smear revealed hemoparasitic forms of Plasmodium vivax . Afterward, malaria was also diagnosed in recipients of one kidney and liver of the same organ donor. First‐line treatment with artesunate was prescribed for 3 days and chloroquine with primaquine thereafter for 14 days. The patient was discharged and returned to the emergency department 5 days later, complaining of gastrointestinal symptoms and developed multiorgan failure that led to death. Conclusion: We report a case of malaria transmission through heart transplantation. Despite adequate and supervised treatment, it can be related to a fatal outcome. Malaria screening in organ donors should be considered in regions where endemicity can lead to rare cases of transmission by transplantation.