RESUMO A doença linfoproliferativa pós-transplante (DLPT) é formada por um grupo heterogêneo de proliferações hematolinfóides resultantes da proliferação mono ou policlonal das células linfoides. O quadro clínico é variado e dependente dos sítios envolvidos, sendo o trato gastrintestinal e o sistema nervoso central os mais comuns, e sintomas constitucionais são frequentes. O envolvimento isolado do enxerto é raro. Relatamos aqui um caso de DLPT policlonal isolada do enxerto em um receptor de transplante renal com doador vivo HLA idêntico, ocorrido sete anos após o transplante. Digno de nota, o paciente não apresentou sintomas constitucionais e sua única manifestação clínica foi disfunção do enxerto, expressa através da elevação da creatinina e discreta proteinuria, sendo o diagnóstico realizado através de biópsia renal, que evidenciou infiltrado intersticial linfoide denso. Tratava-se de DLPT policlonal não relacionada ao vírus Epstein-Bar (EBV) e foi tratado com sucesso com quimioterapia, redução da imunossupressão e sirolimo.

ABSTRACT Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) comprises a heterogeneous group of hematolymphoid proliferations resulting from a monoclonal or polyclonal proliferation of lymphoid cells. The clinical presentation varies according to the affected sites. The gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system are the most common, and constitutional symptoms are frequent. Isolated allograft involvement is rare. We report a case of polyclonal PTLD isolated in the kidney allograft in a patient who received an HLA-identical living donor seven years before. Noteworthy, this patient did not present constitutional symptoms, and his only clinical manifestation was graft dysfunction, expressed by an increase in serum creatinine and mild proteinuria. The diagnosis was performed through renal biopsy, which showed dense lymphoid interstitial infiltrate. The PTLD was polyclonal, unrelated to Epstein-Bar virus (EBV), and it was successfully treated with chemotherapy, reduced immunosuppression, and sirolimus.

ABSTRACT Worldwide, transplant programs have suffered a setback during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and most have temporarily suspended their transplant activities. . We identified 36 liver transplant patients who tested positive for COVID-19. The cases were confirmed by the nucleic acid test (RT-PCR). Epidemiological, demographic, clinical, laboratory, management and outcome data were obtained from the patients’ medical records. Fourteen patients (38.9%) required admission to the Intensive Care Unit and/or invasive ventilatory support (severe cases). The mean age of these severe cases was 63.8 years. Regarding the time since the transplant, 71.4% (10/14 patients) had undergone the procedure less than one year before. The immunosuppressive therapy was reduced in patients who required Intensive Care Unit. A total of 12 cases (12/14, 85.7%) required invasive ventilatory support. Eight cases (8/14, 57.1%) required renal replacement therapy. In this group of patients, nine died (64.3 %). In turn, 22 patients had mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19, not requiring invasive ventilatory support or admission to the Intensive Care Unit. The mean age in these patients was 56.5 years and comorbidities were present in 15 (68.2%) of the cases. In this group, only five patients (5/22, 22.7%) required hospitalization due to complications and there were no deaths This report describes the results of COVID-19 infection in a very specific population, suggesting that liver transplant patients have a significant higher risk of progressing to severeCOVID-19 , with a mortality rate among critically-ill patients above that of the general population.

RESUMO A síndrome hemofagocítica (SHF) ou linfo-histiocitose hemofagocítica é uma condição infrequente e subdiagnosticada que tem por base a ativação excessiva da resposta imune, resultando em fagocitose das células do sangue. Após o transplante renal (TxR), a SHF é habitualmente secundária (ou reativa) a processos infecciosos e neoplásicos, culminando em elevadas taxas de mortalidade. Não há evidências quanto ao tratamento ideal dessa condição. Além de investigação e tratamento da patologia desencadeante do processo de desregulação do sistema imune, há descrições do uso de imunoglobulina humana (IVIG), esteroides em altas doses e plasmaférese. Não há evidências quanto à melhor forma de delinear a imunossupressão de manutenção. Este artigo apresenta dois casos de SHF reativa pós-TxR que realizaram tratamento adjuvante com IVIG, obtendo bons resultados clínicos. Apesar da elevada morbimortalidade associada à SHF reativa após o TxR, o diagnóstico ágil e preciso, associado à instituição de terapia com IVIG adjuvante ao tratamento da doença desencadeante, foi uma estratégia eficaz em conter o processo.

ABSTRACT Hemophagocytic syndrome or hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an infrequent and underdiagnosed condition caused by an overactive immune response, resulting in blood cells phagocytosis. After kidney transplantation (KTx), HLH is usually secondary (or reactive) to infectious and neoplastic processes and has a high mortality rate. No effective treatment is available for this condition. Usual procedures include detecting and treating the pathology triggering the immune system dysregulation, other than administration of intravenous human immunoglobulin (IVIG) and high doses of steroids, and plasmapheresis. The best protocol for maintenance immunosuppressive therapy is also unknown. This article presents two cases of post-KTx reactive HLH that underwent adjuvant IVIG treatment and obtained good clinical results. Despite the high morbidity and mortality associated with reactive HLH after KTx, the early and precise diagnosis and the administration of IVIG therapy along with the treatment of the triggering disease, was an effective strategy to control HLH.

Resumo Objetivo: Relatar as principais variações anatômicas do tronco celíaco e da artéria hepática em sua origem. Materiais e Métodos: Foram analisadas, de forma prospectiva, 100 angiotomografias abdominais consecutivas realizadas em serviço público no período de um ano. Os achados foram categorizados segundo a classificação de Sureka et al. e de Michels. Resultados: De um total de 100 pacientes, 43 tiveram tronco celíaco normal, ou seja, tronco hepatogastroesplênico e artéria mesentérica superior originando-se separadamente da aorta abdominal. Quatro tipos de variação do tronco celíaco foram encontrados em nosso trabalho. Oitenta e dois pacientes apresentaram o padrão de anatomia normal, ou seja, a artéria hepática originando-se da artéria hepática comum e bifurcando-se em artéria hepática direita e artéria hepática esquerda. Seis tipos de variação da artéria hepática foram encontrados em nosso estudo. Conclusão: O nosso trabalho apresenta índices de variações que diferem dos artigos encontrados na literatura. Esses achados chamam a atenção para a necessidade do conhecimento das variações anatômicas no nosso meio, colaborando e facilitando o seu reconhecimento, sua utilização no planejamento técnico operatório e evitando lesões inadvertidas que poderiam comprometer o resultado dos procedimentos médicos, levando a complicações.

Abstract Objective: To describe the main anatomical variations of the celiac trunk and the hepatic artery at their origins. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective analysis of 100 consecutive computed tomography angiography studies of the abdomen performed during a one-year period. The findings were stratified according to classification systems devised by Sureka et al. and Michels. Results: The celiac trunk was "normal" (i.e., the hepatogastrosplenic trunk and superior mesenteric artery originating separately from the abdominal aorta) in 43 patients. In our sample, we identified four types of variations of the celiac trunk. Regarding the hepatic artery, a normal anatomical pattern (i.e., the proper hepatic artery being a continuation of the common hepatic artery and bifurcating into the right and left hepatic arteries) was seen in 82 patients. We observed six types of variations of the hepatic artery. Conclusion: We found rates of variations of the hepatic artery that are different from those reported in the literature. Our findings underscore the need for proper knowledge and awareness of these anatomical variations, which can facilitate their recognition and inform decisions regarding the planning of surgical procedures, in order to avoid iatrogenic intraoperative injuries, which could lead to complications.

Abstract: Dengue is an arbovirosis that ranges from an asymptomatic presentation to a more severe disease, which is characterized by a vascular leakage syndrome where abdominal pain is a major symptom. Transplant recipients are immunosuppressed and are less likely to develop a severe form of the disease because of a reduction in immune-mediated responses that trigger plasma extravasation events. Herein, we report two cases of severe dengue in the early postoperative period of two kidney transplant recipients. Considering the severity of the cases, we emphasize the importance of dengue screening immediately before transplantation in areas endemic for the disease.

Resumo A combinação de imunossupressores faz parte do protocolo de tratamento de pacientes submetidos a um transplante renal (TR). A Thymoglobuline®, imunoglobulina policlonal de coelho dirigida contra timócitos humanos, é o agente mais usado como terapia de indução no TR nos Estados Unidos. No Brasil, a Thymoglobuline® está aprovada para uso em pacientes que foram submetidos a transplante e, apesar de ser amplamente utilizada, ainda existem controvérsias em relação ao seu modo de uso. Realizamos uma revisão sistemática da literatura avaliando os estudos que utilizaram a Thymoglobuline® na indução e no tratamento de rejeição em pacientes submetidos ao TR. A revisão utilizou os bancos de dados computadorizados da EMBASE, LILACS e MedLine e dos trabalhos selecionados foram extraídas informações sobre os dados gerais dos pacientes, as características metodológicas e as variáveis analisadas em cada estudo. Dos resultados obtidos, desenvolvemos um guia prático sobre o uso de Thymoglobuline® em pacientes transplantados renais.

Abstract The combination of immunosuppressive drugs is part of the treatment regimen of patients undergoing kidney transplantation (RT). Thymoglobulin®, a rabbit immunoglobulin directed against human thymocytes, is the most commonly agent used for induction therapy in RT in the US. In Brazil, Thymoglobulin® is approved by ANVISA for the use in patients who underwent kidney transplantation and despite being widely used, there are controversies regarding the drug administration. We prepared a systematic review of the literature, evaluating studies that used Thymoglobulin® for induction and for acute rejection treatment in patients undergoing RT. The review used the computadorized databases of EMBASE, LILACS and MedLine. Data were extracted from the studies concerning general features, methodological characteristics and variables analyzed in each study. From the results, a practical guide was prepared analyzing various aspects on the use of Thymoglobulin® in patients submitted to RT.