Epidemiology and outcomes of dengue in kidney transplant recipients: A 20-year retrospective analysis and comparative literature review

Abstract

Background: Kidney transplant (KT) recipients in dengue-endemic areas are at risk of exposure. We investigated the epidemiology and outcomes from dengue in KT recipients at our transplant center and conducted a literature review.

Materials and methods: We conducted a 20-year retrospective study of KT recipients who were diagnosed with laboratory-confirmed dengue from January 1997 to September 2017 according to the 2009 World Health Organization (WHO) classification. We analyzed clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes.

Results: There were 13 (0.7%) dengue cases among 1917 KT recipients with a median age of 39 years (interquartile ranges [IQR], 22-46); 54% were males. Cases occurred with a median onset of 24 months (IQR, 6-122) after KT. Dengue was diagnosed via dengue NS1 antigen (85%), IgM antibodies (38.5%), or RT-PCR (15.4%). Patients were classified as having dengue without warning sign (30.8%), with warning sign (53.8%), or severe dengue (15.4%). All patients resolved without complications, except one had hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Ten (76.9%) patients experienced eGFR reduction with a median of 13.7 mL/min/1.73 m² (IQR, 8.3-20.5); eight (80%) had a full allograft function recovery.

Conclusions: Dengue in KT recipients in endemic areas is uncommon. Although a transient decline in allograft function can occur, the overall clinical and allograft outcomes seem to be favorable.

Keywords: allograft dysfunction; dengue; epidemiology; kidney transplant; outcome.