III. Preparations: Immunosuppressants
- Corticosteroids (frequently used initially after transplant)
-
Calcineurin Inhibitors
- Agents
- Adverse Effects
- Nephrotoxic Drugs (avoid all NSAIDs and other Nephrotoxins)
- Risk of Hypertensive Emergency including PRES
- Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Inhibitors
-
Purine Synthesis Inhibitors (Antimetabolites)
- Agents
- Adverse Effects
- Gastrointestinal side effects and cytopenias are common
IV. Labs: Transplant Rejection markers
-
Heart Transplant
- Endomyocardial biopsy
-
Kidney Transplant
- Protein to Creatinine ratio
- Serum Creatinine (and calculated GFR)
-
Liver Transplant
- Serum transaminases (AST, ALT)
- Total Bilirubin
- Alkaline Phosphatase
-
Lung transplant
- Transbronchial biopsy (via bronchoscopy)
- Pulmonary Function Testing
V. Complications
- Precautions
- Fever may be presentation for either Transplant Rejection or infection
- Typical markers (e.g. C-RP, Leukocytosis) of inflammation and infection are falsely normal on Immunosuppressants
- Transplant Rejection
- Infection
- Have a low threshold for initiating Sepsis working including Blood Cultures and initiating Antibiotics
- Infections follow a pattern based on time from transplant
- Month 1: Nosocomial infection (e.g. CAUTI, VAP, SSI)
- Month 1-6: Opportunistic infection (CMV, EBV, fungal and Parasitic Infections, Tuberculosis)
- Month 6+: Community acquired infection (e.g. Pneumonia) and opportunistic infections
- Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease
- Neoplastic complication most associated with EBV Infection
- Highest risk in first year after transplant
- May present with non-specific findings (fever, malaise)
- Obtain EBV Titers and consult transplant team
VI. Management: Opportunistic Infections
-
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- Prophylaxis wtih Ganciclovir or Valganciclovir for 3 months post-transplant
- Treatment: Reduce Immunosuppressants if active CMV infection
-
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)
- Treatment: Reduce Immunosuppressants if active EBV infection
- Fungal infection
- Candida prophylaxis with systemic Antifungal (e.g. Fluconazole) for 1-3 months post-transplant
- Treatment: Antifungals and reduce Immunosuppressants if active fungal infection
-
Herpes Simplex Virus
- Treatment: IV Antivirals initially and reduce Immunosuppressants if active HSV infection
-
Herpes Zoster
Virus
- Prophylaxis after known exposure with VZV Ig or oral Antivirals
- Treatment: IV Antivirals initially and reduce Immunosuppressants if active VZV infection
-
Pneumocystis jiroveci
- Prophylaxis with TMP-SMZ, Dapsone, or Atovaquone post-transplant (duration per organ transplanted)
- Treatment: High dose TMP-SMZ for 14 days and reduce Immunosuppressants if active VZV infection
-
Tuberculosis
- Prophylaxis with Isoniazid in high risk patients (e.g. Latent Tb, DM, CMV, pneumocystis, Nocardia)
- Treatment per standard Tuberculosis management protocols (caution with Rifampin due to Drug Interactions)
VII. Management: Endocrine
-
Chronic Kidney Disease
- Monitor Serum Creatinine (with GFR) and Serum Protein to Creatinine ratio yearly (more if GFR <60 ml/min)
-
Diabetes Mellitus
- Screen for diabetes in Kidney and Liver Transplants every 3 months for year 1, then every year
- Goal Hemoglobin A1C <7% (Kidney and liver recipients)
-
Hyperlipidemia
- Decrease Statin dose to 50% when used with Cyclosporine
-
Hypertension
- Goal Blood Pressure <130/80 in liver and Kidney recipients
- Avoid nondihydropyridines (Diltiazem, Verapamil) especially in those on Calcineurin Inhibitors
-
Osteoporosis
- Guidelines vary per organ transplanted (heart, liver, Kidney)
- Kidney recipients should have Serum Calcium, PTH, Phosphorus and Vitamin D
- Maintain Vitamin D >30 ng/ml in heart and liver recipients
-
Contraception
- Preferred agents
- Intrauterine Device
- Medroxyprogesterone (Depo Provera) - risk of Osteoporosis
- Subcutaneous Progestin rod (e.g. Implanon)
- Other agents
- Estrogen-containing agents (e.g. Oral Contraceptives, Contraceptive Patch, Estrogen Ring)
- Estrogens raise drug levels of Cyclosporine, Tacrolimus, Sirolimus and Corticosteroids
- Estrogen-containing agents (e.g. Oral Contraceptives, Contraceptive Patch, Estrogen Ring)
- References
- Preferred agents
VIII. Prevention
-
Tobacco Cessation
- All transplant patients (Tobacco increases transplant loss risk)
- Corbett (2012) Transplantation 94(10): 979-87 [PubMed]
- Foodbourne illness prevention
- Avoid unpasteurized cheese (e.g. soft cheese)
- Avoid undercooked deli meat
- Avoid unwashed fruits and vegetables
- Avoid raw honey
- http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/PeopleAtRisk/ucm352830.htm
-
Immunizations
- Live Vaccines
- Allowed only up to 4 weeks pre-transplant
- Do not used Live Vaccine after transplant
- Inactivated Vaccines
- Allowed up to 2 weeks before transplant, and most are allowed after transplant
- Influenza Vaccine annually
- Age appropriate Vaccines
- Prevnar 13 followed >8 weeks later by Pneumovax
- Live Vaccines
- Cancer Screening
- Highest risk for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer (aggressive management including Actinic Keratoses)
- Annual exam with dermatology starting one year post-transplant
- Also high risk for Kaposi Sarcoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Increased risk of Colon Cancer, Lung Cancer, Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer (double general population)
- Engels (2011) JAMA 306(17): 1891-1901 [PubMed]
- Highest risk for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer (aggressive management including Actinic Keratoses)
-
SBE Prophylaxis
- Heart Transplant patients should have SBE Prophylaxis before invasive dental procedures
- Other transplant patients need not undergo SBE Prophylaxis unless specific cardiac indication per guidelines
- Travel
- Avoid international travel for 6 months post-transplant
- Avoid travel to regions requiring live Vaccination
- Traveler's Diarrhea treatment (e.g. Cipro) should be brought by patient to regions at risk
- Malaria Prophylaxis
- Calcineurin Inhibitors are not affected by Malarone (but are affected by Mefloquine, Chloroquine, doxy)
- Other Immunosuppressants (Purine and mTOR Inhibitors) are not affected by Malaria Prophylaxis
- References
IX. Prognosis: Five year survival
- Heart Transplant >50%
- Lung transplant >50%
- Liver Transplant: 64%
- Kidney Transplant: 70%