A case of amebic colitis in a renal-transplant recipient.
- Author:
Hyun Ju KIM
1
;
Joon Seok OH
;
Hwa Mock LEE
;
Yong Hun SHIN
;
Yong Ki PARK
;
Joong Kyung KIM
;
Il Seon LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Bong Seng Memorial Hospital, Busan, Korea. kidney119@yahoo.co.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Amebic colitis;
Renal transplantation
- MeSH:
Abdominal Pain;
Biopsy;
Colitis;
Colon;
Diarrhea;
Dysentery, Amebic;
Entamoeba histolytica;
Humans;
Immunosuppression;
Kidney Transplantation;
Metronidazole;
Middle Aged;
Trophozoites;
Ulcer
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2009;76(Suppl 1):S131-S134
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Intestinal amoebiasis is caused by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. Amoebic colitis is usually acquired by ingesting contaminated food or water, but it can be associated with cell-mediated immunosuppression in organ-transplant recipients. We present a case of invasive amoebic colitis in a kidney-transplant recipient who was treated successfully with metronidazole and adjusted immunosuppressive therapy. The patient was a 49-year-old man who had undergone renal transplantation 15 years earlier. He complained of diarrhea accompanied by mild lower abdominal pain over five weeks, and the diagnosis of amoebic colitis was made with a colonoscopic biopsy. The colonoscopic findings showed multiple, round, scattered ulcerations throughout the colon, and trophozoites of E. histolytica were identified in the base of these ulcers. We treated his colitis with metronidazole and a reduction in immunosuppressive therapy.
