Massive Airway Bleeding Caused by Pulmonary Strongyloidiasis in a Patient with a Transplanted Kidney

Abstract

Introduction

We report a fatal case of massive airway bleeding caused by pulmonary strongyloidiasis in a patient with a transplanted kidney.

Case Presentation

A 47-year-old male, regularly taking immunosuppressants post-kidney transplant, visited our hospital with symptoms of abdominal bloating, nausea, and emesis persisting for three days. After hospitalization, he developed a cough, hemoptysis, and respiratory failure. Sputum analysis confirmed an infestation with Strongyloides stercoralis. Despite receiving albendazole therapy and bronchoscopic management for bronchial hemorrhage, the patient ultimately died due to acute respiratory and circulatory collapse triggered by severe airway bleeding.

Conclusion

Patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy following kidney transplantation are at increased risk for disseminated strongyloidiasis. Consequently, infectious disease screening prior to transplantation, along with essential preventive pharmacotherapy, is of paramount importance.

Keywords:

• strongyloides stercoralis
• kidney transplantation
• airway bleeding
• disseminated infection

Ethical Approval

Ethical approval was not needed by local ethical committee, as this is a case report. The patient’s family provided written informed consent to publish details of this case. A copy of the consent form is available for review by the Editor of this journal.

Consent to Participate

The patient’s family has given its consent to participate in this case report.

Consent to Publish

The authors hereby confirm that the kidney donation was conducted voluntarily, with written informed consent, and it was in adherence with the Declaration of Istanbul. All authors confirm that they had full access to all the data in the study and accept responsibility to submit for publication.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

None of the authors have any competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

Article publishing charge provided by Clinical Technological Innovation Training Project of Army Medical University (CX2019LC104).