Dengue Virus Transmission via Deceased Renal Allograft: A Case Report Highlighting the Need for Donor Screening in Endemic Areas

Abstract

Dengue virus infection (DVI) has multiple routes of transmission. Modes of transmission include mosquito bites, perinatal transmission, blood transfusions, organ transplantation, needle stick injuries, or laboratory accidents. DVI in kidney transplant recipients is common in an endemic area. In an endemic area, it is usually caused by a mosquito bite. Solid organ transplantation, including the kidney, has been implicated in the transmission of DVI in the immediate post-transplant period. We describe a case of end-stage renal disease in which the patient got DVI immediately after getting a kidney from a deceased kidney donor. Our patient presented with fatigue and pain around the graft, anemia, thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy, hepatitis, and was found to have a hematoma around the graft. The recipient of the second kidney from the same donor also presented with fever and was found to have dengue. We describe our experience with managing our case, along with a detailed literature review of similar cases transmitted through renal allograft.