Dyslipidemia is a widespread risk factor in solid organ transplant patients, due to many reasons, such as the use of immunosuppressive drugs, with a consequent increase in cardiovascular diseases in this population. PCSK9 is an enzyme mainly known for its role in altering LDL levels, consequently increasing cardiovascular risk. Monoclonal antibody PCSK9 inhibitors demonstrated remarkable efficacy in the general population in reducing LDL cholesterol levels and preventing cardiovascular disease. In transplant patients, these drugs are still poorly used, despite having comparable efficacy to the general population and giving fewer drug interactions with immunosuppressants. Furthermore, there is enough evidence that PCSK9 also plays a role in other pathways, such as inflammation, which is particularly dangerous for graft survival. In this review, the current evidence on the function of PCSK9 and the use of its inhibitors will be discussed, particularly in transplant patients, in which they may provide additional benefits.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jcm11113247 | DOI Listing |
Transpl Infect Dis
December 2024
Transplant Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
We report a case of Acanthamoeba infection in an HCT recipient with steroid-refractory GVHD. We highlight the multiple challenges that free-living ameba infections present to the clinician, the clinical laboratory, transplant infectious disease for review, hospital epidemiology if nosocomial transmission is considered, and public health officials, as exposure source identification can be a significant challenge. Transplant physicians should include Acanthamoeba infections in their differential diagnosis of a patient with skin, sinus, lung, and/or brain involvement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTranspl Infect Dis
December 2024
Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Introduction: With reports of expanding epidemiology of blastomycosis across the United States, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and outcomes associated with blastomycosis in solid organ transplant (SOT) and hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective case series of adult SOT and HCT recipients at a tertiary care medical center between January 1, 2005 and September 30, 2023. Cases were defined as culture-proven blastomycosis.
Transpl Infect Dis
December 2024
Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
This case involves a 52-year-old male, who underwent a deceased donor orthotopic liver transplant 7 months prior, presented with a 2-week history of persistent fever, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and mild elevation of liver enzymes. Upon hospital admission, the patient was febbrile, alert and oriented, hemodynamically stable. Laboratory exams revealed worsening leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hyponatremia, and elevated ferritin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTranspl Infect Dis
December 2024
Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Introduction: The appropriate duration of therapy for uncomplicated gram-negative bloodstream infection (GN-BSI) in liver transplant (LTx) recipients remains unknown. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of a short-course antimicrobial therapy.
Methods: This retrospective study was performed in a single LTx center in Japan.
Transpl Infect Dis
December 2024
Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia.
Background: Identifying patients with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is challenging. This is particularly true amongst immunocompromised hosts, in whom the diagnostic accuracy of available tests is limited. The authors evaluated the impact of routine pretransplant review by a transplant infectious diseases (TID) physician on LTBI screening in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT) recipients.
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