Infecções causadas por vírus em 100 pacientes submetidos a transplante cardíaco / Infections caused by virus in 100 patients submitted to heart transplantation

RESUMO

PURPOSE: To analyse prevalence, clinical features and organ involvement in viral infections occuring after heart transplantation. METHODS: One hundred consecutive heart transplantation patients were studied. The follow-up was three to 90 (mean 23.32 +/- 25.97) months. Viral infections were diagnosed using the Center for Disease Control criteria. RESULTS: Viral infections were responsible for 51 infections, 19.6 of all infections in this patient population. Herpesvirus infection was the most common etiology 32 (59.25) of all viral infections were caused by reactivation of or reinfection by cytomegalovirus. Of those infections 27 (84.37) occurred in the first three weeks following surgery. Only 4 (12.50) of those showed clinical signs of cytomegalovirus disease. Other herpesvirus causing infections were herpes simplex and varicella-zoster virus. CONCLUSION: Infections are common after heart transplantation and viral infections of herpesviridae family are important causes of those infections; usually as reactivation in an immune suppressed patient. The most important viral infections were caused by reactivation of or reinfection by cytomegalovirus.

ABSTRACT

Purpose - To analyse prevalence, clinical features and organ involvement in viral infections occuring after heart transplantation. Methods - One hundred consecutive heart transplatation patients were studied. The follow-up was three to 90 (mean 23.32 ± 25.97) months. Viral infections were diagnosed using the Center for Disease Control criteria. Results - Viral infections were responsible for 51 infections, 19.6% of all infections in this patient population. Herpesvirus infections was the most common etiology 32 (59.25%) of all viral infections were caused by reactivation of or reinfection by cytomegalovirus. Of those infections 27 (84.37%) occurred in the first three weeks following surgery. Only 4 (12.50%) of those showed clinical signs of cytomegalovirus disease. Other herpesvirus causing infections were herpes simplex and varicella-zoster virus. Conclusion - Infections are common after heart transplantation and viral infections of herpesviridae family are important causes of those infections; usually as reactivation in an immune suppressed patient. The most important viral infections were caused by reactivation of or reinfection by cytomegalovirus