Serious and Atypical Presentations of Bartonella henselae Infection in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Abstract

This article describes 5 cases of bartonellosis with fever and atypical clinical presentations in kidney transplant recipients: thrombotic microangiopathies, recurrent hemophagocytosis, and immune reconstitution syndrome after treatment. The diagnosis, the pathological lesions, and treatments are described. Bartonellosis must be researched in solid organ transplant recipients with fever of undetermined origin.

Keywords: Bartonella; hemophagocytosis; immune reconstitution syndrome; solid organ transplant recipient; thrombotic microangiopathy.