ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Aspergillosis infection is associated with high morbidity and mortality in liver transplant recipients. This study investigated the prognosis of liver transplant recipients with a pre-operative treatment for paranasal aspergillosis. METHODS: We collected data from 979 cases of patients who underwent liver transplants at the Samsung Medical Center from May 1996 to Feburary 2010. RESULTS: Eight patients were diagnosed with paranasal aspergillosis after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), before liver transplantation. In these 8 patients, 7 (87.5%) were male, with a mean age of 55 years. All patients had a hepatitis B virus infection, and 6 patients had hepatocellular carcinoma. The mean days from FESS to liver transplantation was 31 (range, 12~47 days) and anti-fungal agents were not used during these periods. All 8 patients were free from a recurrence of aspergillosis after liver transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment for paranasal aspergillosis in patients prior to liver transplantation does not induce aspergillosis infection after transplantation.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Aspergillosis , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Hepatitis B virus , Liver , Liver Transplantation , Prognosis , Recurrence , TransplantsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Aspergillosis infection is associated with high morbidity and mortality in liver transplant recipients. This study investigated the prognosis of liver transplant recipients with a pre-operative treatment for paranasal aspergillosis. METHODS: We collected data from 979 cases of patients who underwent liver transplants at the Samsung Medical Center from May 1996 to Feburary 2010. RESULTS: Eight patients were diagnosed with paranasal aspergillosis after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), before liver transplantation. In these 8 patients, 7 (87.5%) were male, with a mean age of 55 years. All patients had a hepatitis B virus infection, and 6 patients had hepatocellular carcinoma. The mean days from FESS to liver transplantation was 31 (range, 12~47 days) and anti-fungal agents were not used during these periods. All 8 patients were free from a recurrence of aspergillosis after liver transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment for paranasal aspergillosis in patients prior to liver transplantation does not induce aspergillosis infection after transplantation.