A scoping review of transmission of dengue virus from donors to recipients after solid organ transplantation

Abstract

Dengue virus can infect humans through vectorial and non-vectorial transmission. Classically, non-vectorial transmission has been related to vertical transmission and health care-associated infections, but recently transmission to solid organ and bone marrow recipients has been reported. We performed a scoping review of the available literature searching for evidence on screening for dengue in potential organ donors and the use of these infected organs. From 372 unique records identified, 17 were eligible to be included in our scoping study. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, three studies were included. These studies described a total of six patients from India (two case reports; n=2) and Colombia (one case series; n=4). Three patients received a liver, two received a kidney and one had a heart transplant. The onset of symptoms occurred in the first week after transplant in all cases and all experienced fever as the primary symptom. All patients presented thrombocytopenia with a platelet count <50 000. None of the patients developed graft rejection. However, four patients presented graft complications. No recipient deaths occurred. There is not a strong recommendation for dengue screening of donors in transplantation guidelines, but in endemic areas, physicians should be aware of this type of transmission before transplantation.

Keywords: dengue; organ transplantation; transmission.