Acute measles infection triggering an episode of liver transplant rejection

Abstract

We report the case of a 31-year-old immunosuppressed, liver transplanted man, with acute measles infection. The vaccinated patient had been exposed to measles during a known measles epidemic in public schools in Austria between January and April 2008. Measles infection triggered an episode of acute liver transplant rejection. The diagnosis of measles infection was made clinically and by serologic tests. Transplant rejection was diagnosed by liver biopsy. The transplant rejection was treated successfully. Liver transplant patients are at an increased risk for infection during epidemic outbreaks, even after pre-transplant vaccination, as immunity may wane over time.