Brain abscess in renal transplant recipients: Report of three cases

BACKGROUND Neurologic complications occur in about 30% of renal transplant patients, infections being the most common. We encountered three such patients and present our experience in the management of such cases. CLINICAL MATERIAL Three cases of brain abscess in renal transplant recipients are reported. These patients presented from 9-60 months after the transplant. One patient had a pyogenic abscess; in the second the organism identified was Nocardia asteroides; in the third, a fungal infection was responsible. In two patients excision of the abscess was done, while in one repeated aspirations with intracavitary antibiotics were used. All received systemic antimicrobial therapy. CONCLUSIONS Central nervous system (CNS) complications, specifically infections, are quite common in renal transplant recipients, but reports of brain abscesses in these patients are very rare. The treatment options for such patients are discussed. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc.