Zika and chikungunya virus infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients and oncohematological patients.

Aedes mosquitoes are well adapted in domestic environments and widespread in tropical regions. Since 2015, Brazil has been experiencing a triple epidemic of dengue (DENV), chikungunya (CHKV), and Zika (ZIKV) viruses. The last 2 viruses are likely following the path of DENV, which has been endemic in most parts of the country since the 1980s. Given this triple epidemic, we proposed a prospective and collaborative study to assess the prevalence, morbidity, and mortality of DENV, CHKV, and ZIKV infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients and oncohematological patients. A case definition strategy (fever and rash) was used to prompt diagnostic investigation of DENV, ZIKV, and CHKV, which was accomplished by real-time polymerase chain reaction with plasma and urine samples. Clinical follow-up was performed 7 and 30 days after symptom onset. We report here the first cases of ZIKV and CHKV infections diagnosed in this ongoing study. From February to May 2016, 9 of the 26 patients (34.6%) fulfilling case definition criteria were diagnosed with DENV (3 cases), ZIKV (4 cases), or CHKV (2 cases) infections. Prolonged viremia and viruria were observed in dengue and Zika fever cases, respectively. Thrombocytopenia was the most frequent complication. Delayed engraftment was noted in 1 patient who acquired ZIKV 25 days before HSCT. All patients survived without sequelae. With the geographic expansion of arboviruses, donor and recipient screening may become mandatory. Patients living in areas where these viruses are not endemic are also at risk, since these viruses can be transmitted by blood as well as organ or tissue transplantation.

The monitoring of hematopoietic stem cell transplant donors and recipients from endemic areas for malaria.

Malaria is an unusual complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in non-endemic countries. However, transplant candidates, recipients and donors living in endemic regions frequently report previous episodes of malaria. This fact could represent an important risk for immunosuppressed recipients that could develop severe malaria cases. We report a case of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in which the donor had a history of previous malaria, and close monitoring was performed before and after procedure by parasitological and molecular tests. The donor presented Plasmodium vivax in thick blood smears one month after transplant and was treated according to Brazilian Health Ministry guidelines. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was able to detect malaria infection in the donor one week earlier than thick blood film. Even without positive results, the recipient was pre-emptively treated with chloroquine in order to prevent the disease. We highlight the importance of monitoring recipients and donors in transplant procedures with the aim of reducing the risk of malaria transmission.

The monitoring of hematopoietic stem cell transplant donors and recipients from endemic areas for malaria / Monitoramento de doadores e receptores provenientes de áreas endêmicas para malária em transplante de células-tronco hematopoiéticas

Malaria is an unusual complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in non-endemic countries. However, transplant candidates, recipients and donors living in endemic regions frequently report previous episodes of malaria. This fact could represent an important risk for immunosuppressed recipients that could develop severe malaria cases. We report a case of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in which the donor had a history of previous malaria, and close monitoring was performed before and after procedure by parasitological and molecular tests. The donor presented Plasmodium vivax in thick blood smears one month after transplant and was treated according to Brazilian Health Ministry guidelines. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was able to detect malaria infection in the donor one week earlier than thick blood film. Even without positive results, the recipient was pre-emptively treated with chloroquine in order to prevent the disease. We highlight the importance of monitoring recipients and donors in transplant procedures with the aim of reducing the risk of malaria transmission.

A malária é complicação incomum após o transplante de células-tronco hematopoiéticas em países endêmicos. No entanto, candidatos a transplantes, receptores e doadores que vivem em regiões endêmicas frequentemente relatam episódios anteriores de malária. Este fato pode representar um risco importante para receptores imunossuprimidos, que podem desenvolver casos de malária grave. Relatamos um caso de transplante de células-tronco hematopoiéticas (TCTH) em que o doador teve história de malária anterior e um monitoramento por meio de exames parasitológicos e moleculares foi realizado antes e após o procedimento. O doador apresentou Plasmodium vivax na gota espessa um mês após o transplante e foi tratado de acordo com as orientações do Ministério da Saúde brasileiro. A reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) foi capaz de detectar a infecção por malária no doador uma semana mais cedo do que a gota espessa. Mesmo sem resultados positivos, o receptor foi preventivamente tratado com cloroquina, a fim de prevenir as formas sanguíneas assexuadas. Destacamos a importância do monitoramento de receptores e doadores em procedimentos de transplante, com o objetivo de reduzir o risco de transmissão da malária.

Epidemiology of neglected tropical diseases in transplant recipients: review of the literature and experience of a Brazilian HSCT center / Epidemiologia das doenças tropicais negligenciadas em receptores de transplantes: revisão da literatura e experiência de um centro brasileiro

The rising success rate of solid organ (SOT) and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and modern immunosuppression make transplants the first therapeutic option for many diseases affecting a considerable number of people worldwide. Consequently, developing countries have also grown their transplant programs and have started to face the impact of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in transplant recipients. We reviewed the literature data on the epidemiology of NTDs with greatest disease burden, which have affected transplant recipients in developing countries or may represent a threat to transplant recipients living in other regions. Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Chagas disease, Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Dengue, Yellow fever and Measles are the topics included in this review. In addition, we retrospectively revised the experience concerning the management of NTDs at the HSCT program of Amaral Carvalho Foundation, a public transplant program of the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

O sucesso crescente dos transplantes de órgãos sólidos (TOS) e de células tronco-hematopoiéticas (TCTH) e as novas drogas imunossupressoras fizeram dos transplantes a primeira opção terapêutica para muitas doenças que afetam milhares de pessoas em todo o mundo. Também os populosos países em desenvolvimento investiram no crescimento de seus programas de transplante e desde então começaram a vivenciar o impacto das doenças tropicais negligenciadas (DTNs) nestes pacientes. Revisamos os dados da literatura sobre a epidemiologia das DTNs de maior impacto clinico e social que afetam receptores de transplante de países em desenvolvimento, ou que podem representar um risco para receptores de transplante vivendo em outras regiões não afetadas por estas doenças. Tuberculose, hanseníase, doença de Chagas, malaria, leishmaniose, dengue, febre amarela e sarampo são os tópicos incluídos nesta revisão. Além disso, revisamos retrospectivamente a experiência referente ao manejo das DTNs do Serviço de Transplante de Medula Óssea da Fundação Amaral Carvalho, atualmente o maior centro de TCTH alogênico do Brasil.

Epidemiology of neglected tropical diseases in transplant recipients. Review of the literature and experience of a Brazilian HSCT center.

The rising success rate of solid organ (SOT) and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and modern immunosuppression make transplants the first therapeutic option for many diseases affecting a considerable number of people worldwide. Consequently, developing countries have also grown their transplant programs and have started to face the impact of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in transplant recipients. We reviewed the literature data on the epidemiology of NTDs with greatest disease burden, which have affected transplant recipients in developing countries or may represent a threat to transplant recipients living in other regions. Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Chagas disease, Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Dengue, Yellow fever and Measles are the topics included in this review. In addition, we retrospectively revised the experience concerning the management of NTDs at the HSCT program of Amaral Carvalho Foundation, a public transplant program of the state of São Paulo, Brazil.