Complications of Immunosuppressive Therapy in Solid Organ Transplantation

Abstract

Availability of novel immunosuppressive drugs is the most important factor responsible for significant improvement in long-term graft survival rates after solid organ transplantation. However, chronic immunosuppression predisposes patients to a myriad of potentially life-threatening complications. In addition to drug-related adverse effects, transplant recipients are at increased risk of developing opportunistic microbial infections and a spectrum of unique cancers, many of which are caused by oncogenic viruses. Cross-sectional imaging studies play a crucial role in the timely diagnosis and management of post-transplant infections and malignancies.

Keywords: Complications; Computed tomography; Immunosuppression; Infections; MR imaging; Malignancy; Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD); Transplantation.