Results of renal transplantation in patients with Schistosoma infection

Purpose: We evaluated the results of renal transplantation in patients infected with Schistosoma haematobium, as well as the risks of urological complications and post-transplant reinfection. Materials and Methods: The outcome of 20 kidney transplants was retrospectively studied. Based on our experience and review of the literature, our clinical practice to prevent urological complications consisted of antischistosomal chemotherapy given at the pre-transplant evaluation, with endovesical ureteroneocystostomy preferred in case of bladder calcifications. A Foley catheter was maintained for 10 days. A transurethral bladder neck incision was performed before removal of the Foley catheter when bladder neck sclerosis was present. Results: The 1 and 2-year patient survival rate was 93%, and 1 and 2-year graft survival rates were 88 and 81%, respectively, which were not different from those of a cohort of 167 patients without schistosomal infection. Surgical complications included 2 postoperative hemorrhages, 2 urinary leaks and 1 nonschistosomal related ureteral stricture. Post-transplant schistosomal infection never occurred when antischistosomal chemotherapy was given at the pre-transplant evaluation. Conclusions: Patients with schistosomal infection are suitable recipients for kidney transplantation, although they are at risk for urological complications. Unlike other infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, the risk of recurrence due to reactivation of chronically hosted pathogens seems to be low or absent in patients who received antischistosomal chemotherapy at the pre-transplant evaluation. Long-term urological followup is recommended, including urethrocystoscopy, because of the theoretically increased risk for bladder malignancy.