Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of opportunistic infections in pediatric renal transplant recipients

OIs present significant risks to patients following solid organ transplantation. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for the development of OIs after kidney transplantation in pediatric patients and to evaluate the impact of OIs on outcomes in this patient population. A single-center retrospective longitudinal cohort analysis including pediatric patients 21 yr of age or younger transplanted from July 1999 to June 2013 at an academic medical center was conducted. Patients were excluded if they received multi-organ transplant. A total of 175 patients were included in the study. Patients who developed OIs were more likely to be female and younger at the time of transplant. A six-factor risk model for OI development was developed. Death, disease recurrence, and PTLD development were similar between groups but trended toward increased incidence in the OI group. Incidence of rejection was significantly higher in the OI group (p = 0.04). Patients who developed OIs had several important risk factors, including younger age, EBV-negative serostatus, CMV donor (+)/recipient (-), biopsy-proven acute rejection, ANC <1000, MMF dose >500 mg/m², and any infection. Incidence of rejection was higher in the OI group, but rate of graft loss was not statistically different.