Nephrol Dial Transplant (2002) 17: 1380-1383
© 2002 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association
Editorial Comments
Non-malignant skin changes in transplant patients
Department of Dermatology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
Keywords: infectious diseases; lichen ruber planus; non-malignant; porokeratosis; transplant
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
Introduction
The skin pathology seen in graft recipients is unique because they are usually seen in patients who have a long history of renal disease, where the characteristic lesions seen in pre-terminal failure followed by dialysis-induced skin pathology had developed. The skin changes after renal transplantation partially replace, and partially are superimposed upon, the skin lesions characteristic for these preceding periods.
Skin changes after kidney transplantation
Successful renal transplantation causes a sudden alteration of skin function and subcutaneous pathology. Pre-existing skin pathology changes and a pattern of skin pathology, partly benign, partly malignant, appears. While immunosuppressive drugs cause skin pathology in patients exposed to the same immunosuppressive drugs as the renal graft recipient, the skin pathology after renal transplantation is unique because of the major pre-existing skin pathology. Our clinical experience would suggest an increased sensitivity of the skin.
Influence on pre-existing skin changes
Decreased sebaceous and sweat gland production normalizes slowly after transplantation [1] and at the same
Dermatoses appearing after transplantation
Lichen ruber planus
Seborrhoeic and perioral dermatitis
Porokeratosis
Graft vs host disease
Infectious diseases
Conclusion