Title:Characterization and Management of Cutaneous Side Effects Related to the Immunosuppressive Treatment in Solid Organ Recipients
Volume: 18
Issue: 4
Author(s): Paola Savoia, Andrea Ranghino and Paolo Fava
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Skin, side effects, immunosuppressive treatment, solid organ transplantation.
Abstract: Patients who underwent solid organ transplantation frequently suffer from different skin diseases,
as consequence of the immunosuppressive treatment. Specific cutaneous side effects such as
acne, hypertricosis or other pilosebaceous unit disorders, gingival hyperplasia, purpura or teleangiectasies
are commonly associated to immunosuppressive medications. The majority of these conditions are
benign, but the aesthetic concern may affect the patient is quality of life and reduce the adherence to the
therapy. Moreover, solid organ transplant recipients frequently develop skin infections, as an indirect
consequence of the immunosuppressive regimens. Herpes virus reactivation is more common few
months after transplantation, whereas when the immunosuppression is reduced, the skin infections are
mainly represented by human papilloma virus infections and localized mycosis. Bacterial infections are
relatively rare. Long-term consequences of the immunosuppressive therapy are represented by development
of precancerosis and skin cancers, with a risk that enhances over the time and a significant impact
on patient survival. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the data published in the recent
literature about this topic, in order to characterize the main skin disorders associated to the use of
immunosuppressive drugs in solid organ recipients, giving information about their risk, epidemiology,
clinical manifestations and management.
