Rosso L, Nosotti M, Mendogni P, Palleschi A, Tosi D, Montoli M, Pappalettera M, Tarsia P, Santambrogio L
Unit of Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplantation, Cà Granda Foundation General Hospital, Milano, Italy.
Transplant Proc. 2012 Sep;44(7):2022-5. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2012.06.027.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a neurological problem characterized by headache, altered mental status, focal neurological deficits, visual disorders, and seizures. The disorder is related to a number of diseases including calcineurin inhibitor therapy in solid organ transplantation. The incidence of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in lung transplantation patients is unclear; probably the majority of the cases are unreported. The authors have described a case series constituted of four patients presenting posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome after bilateral lung transplantation. The cases had in common complicated surgery and a posttransplant course characterized by hypertension, hypomagnesemia and acidosis. Invasive mechanical ventilation, calcineurin inhibitor discontinuation, aggressive antihypertensive therapy, and electrolyte regulation led to near complete recovery of symptoms.
