[Overwhelming postsplenectomy infection during combination therapy with interferon ribavirin after living donor liver transplantation for hepatitis C: a case report]

Nihon Shokakibyo Gakkai Zasshi. 2015 Feb;112(2):325-31. doi: 10.11405/nisshoshi.112.325.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A 60-year old woman was admitted for reintroduction of interferon/ribavirin combination therapy to prevent the recurrence of hepatitis C following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). She had also undergone splenectomy during LDLT to avoid postoperative pancytopenia due to hypersplenism. However, a few days after reintroduction of the therapy, she developed severe diarrhea and fever that progressed to circulatory and respiratory shock. Blood culture was positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae, leading to a diagnosis of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection (OPSI). Although the patient developed multi-organ failure, she ultimately recovered after intensive care including mechanical ventilation and hemodialysis. Once OPSI is suspected, intensive care should be commenced immediately given the disease' s fulminant clinical course and high mortality. Postoperative prophylaxis with the pneumococcal vaccine needs to be tested in a multi-center study.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Critical Care
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Hepatitis C / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferons / administration & dosage*
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Living Donors*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumococcal Infections / etiology*
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Recurrence
  • Ribavirin / administration & dosage*
  • Splenectomy* / adverse effects

Substances

  • Ribavirin
  • Interferons