Tıp Fakültesi / Faculty of Medicine
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11727/1403
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Item Clinical Features of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Patients Undergoing Solid-Organ Transplant: Baskent University Experience(2023) Yuce, Gulbahar Darilmaz; Ulubay, Gaye; Tek, Korhan; Bozbas, Serife Savas; Erol, Cigdem; Buyukasik, Piril; Haberal, Kemal Murat; Arslan, Ayse Hande; Akcay, Muserref Sule; Haberal, Mehmet; 0000-0002-2535-2534; 34635037; AAJ-1219-2021Objectives: The clinical features and treatment approaches, outcomes, and mortality predictors of COVID-19 in solid-organ transplant recipients have not been well defined. This study investigated the clinical features of COVID-19 infection in solid-organ transplant recipients at our center in Turkey. Materials and Methods: Our study included 23 solid-organ transplant recipients and 336 nontransplant individuals (143 previously healthy and 193 patients with at least 1 comorbidity) who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 disease in our hospital between March 2020 and January 2021. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of patients were compared. We used SPSS version 20.0 for statistical analysis. All groups were compared using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests. P <.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean age of solid-organ transplant recipients was 49.8 +/- 13.7 years (78.3% men, 21.7% women). Among the 23 recipients, 17 (73.9%) were kidney and 6 (26.1%) were liver transplant recipients. Among nontransplant individuals, 88.7% (n = 298) had mild/moderate disease and 11.3% (n = 38) had severe disease. Among transplant recipients, 78.3% (n = 18) had mild/moderate disease and 21.7% (n = 5) had severe disease (P =.224). Transplant recipients had greater requirements for nasal oxygen (P =.005) and noninvasive mechanical ventilation (P =.003) and had longer length of intensive care unit stay (P =.030) than nontransplant individuals. No difference was found between the 2 groups in terms of mortality (P =.439). However, a subgroup analysis showed increased mortality in transplant recipients versus previously healthy patients with COVID-19 (P <.05). Secondary infections were major causes of mortality in transplant recipients. Conclusions: COVID-19 infection resulted in higher mortality in solid- organ transplant recipients versus that shown in healthy patients. More attention on secondary infections is needed in transplant recipients to reduce mortality.Item Short-term Central Venous Catheter Complications in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease Who Undergo Apheresis(2014) Yeral, Mahmut; Boga, Can; Oguzkurt, Levent; Asma, Suheyl; Kasar, Mutlu; Kozanoglu, Ilknur; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9580-628X; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5335-7976; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3856-7005; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5268-1210; 23504572; ABC-4148-2020; AAD-6222-2021; AAI-7831-2021; AAL-3906-2021; AAE-1241-2021Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are prone to develop thrombosis and infection due to their inflammatory and immune deficiency state. These patients require red cell exchange therapy for treatment or prevention of hemoglobin S associated complications. Owing to vascular access problems, adult patients need central venous catheterization (CVC) for exchange procedures. Procedure related complications have been reported for long-term CVCs in pediatric patients. However, short-term CVC complications in adult patients are not clear. This report represents the results of documented complications of short-term CVCs in patients with SCD who undergo apheresis. A total of 142 non-tunneled catheters with average median diameter of 9 F (range 8-16 F) were implanted for apheresis. The catheters were mainly inserted through the right internal jugular vein (66.2 %). Total days of catheter were 412. Results were reported as a complication rate and event according to 1,000 catheter days and compared to a control group including 37 healthy stem cell donors. In the patient group, 1 (1 %) hematoma and 1 (1 %) infection were observed for internal jugular vein catheterization (3.7 hemorrhages and 3.7 infections according to 1,000 catheter days), whereas four (8.9 %) cases of thrombosis and 1 (2.2 %) infection (27 and 6.9 according to 1,000 catheter days) developed in femoral vein. There was a significant difference in terms of thrombosis (P = 0.009). In the control group, only individual developed thrombosis in internal jugular vein. Short-term CVC inserted through to the internal jugular vein seems to be safer than femoral vein in patients with SCD.Item A 10-Year Experience of Tuberculosis in Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients(2015) Ulubay, Gaye; Kupeli, Elif; Birben, Ozlem Duvenci; Seyfettin, Emine Pinar; Dogrul, Mustafa Ilgaz; Ugurlu, Aylin Ozsancak; Eyuboglu, Fusun Oner; Haberal, Mehmet; 0000-0002-5525-8207; 0000-0002-3462-7632; 0000-0003-2478-9985; 0000-0003-3598-3986; 0000-0002-5826-1997; 25894157; AAR-4338-2020; AAJ-8097-2021; AAB-5064-2021; AAA-2925-2020; AAB-5345-2021Objectives: Tuberculosis remains an important problem in solid-organ transplant patients due to their immunocompromised state. The objective of the present study was to report the incidence, demographic characteristics, and various presentations of tuberculosis in solid-organ transplant recipients. Materials and Methods: We evaluated a total of 999 patients (male/female = 665/334, 661 renal and 338 liver transplants) who underwent solid-organ transplant between 2003 and 2013. The medical records of all patients were retrospectively reviewed. Patients' demographics, transplant type, primary site of tuberculosis specimen culture and pathology results, chest radiograph, and thoracic computed tomography findings, total blood count and chemistry were all recorded. Results: Among the 999 subjects, 19 patients (1.9%) (male/female: 15/4, mean +/- SD age, 42 +/- 18.5 y) were diagnosed with tuberculosis. The majority of patients (85%) were diagnosed with tuberculosis within 6 months after transplant, and 15% were diagnosed within 3 months. Most diagnoses of tuberculosis were based on histopathologic examination of biopsy material. Of these patients, 9 were diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, 8 had extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and 2 had both. Nontuberculosis mycobacteria infections were detected in 3 patients. Conclusions: Even with a negative exposure history, tuberculosis can manifest as different clinic presentations in solid-organ transplant patients on immunosuppressive drugs, particularly in the first 6 months after transplant. Therefore, clinicians should always consider tuberculosis as the potential cause of an infectious disease with unknown cause to successfully diagnose and manage solid-organ transplant recipients.Item Postoperative Effects of Intraoperative Hyperglycemia in Liver Transplant Patients(2015) Komurcu, Ozgur; Camkiran, Aynur; Kaplan, Serife; Torgay, Adnan; Pirat, Arash; Haberal, Mehmet; Arslan, Gulnaz; 0000-0002-6829-3300; 0000-0001-6762-895X; 0000-0002-3462-7632; 0000-0003-1470-7501; 25894186; AAJ-5221-2021; GLV-1652-2022; AAJ-8097-2021Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of intraoperative hyperglycemia on postoperative outcomes in orthotopic liver transplant recipients. Materials and Methods: After ethics committee approval was obtained, we retrospectively analyzed the records of patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplant from January 2000 to December 2013. A total 389 orthotopic liver transplants were performed in our center, but patients aged < 15 years (179 patients) were not included in the analyses. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on their maximum intraoperative blood glucose level: group 1 (patients with intraoperative blood glucose level < 200 mg/dL) and group 2 (patients with intraoperative blood glucose level > 200 mg/dL). Postoperative complications between the 2 groups were compared. Results: There were 58 patients (37.6%; group 1, blood glucose < 200 mg/dL) who had controlled blood glucose and 96 patients (62.3%; group 2, blood glucose > 200 mg/dL) who had uncontrolled blood glucose. The mean age and weight for groups 1 and 2 were similar. There were no differences between the 2 groups regarding the duration of anhepatic phase (P=.20), operation time (P=.41), frequency of immediate intraoperative extubation (P=.14), and postoperative duration of mechanical ventilation (P=.06). There were no significant differences in frequency of patients who had postoperative infectious complications, acute kidney injury, or need for hemodialysis. Mortality rates after liver transplant were similar between the 2 groups (P=.81) Conclusions: Intraoperative hyperglycemia during orthotopic liver transplant was not associated with an increased risk of postoperative infection, acute renal failure, or mortality.Item Effect of Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio and Lactate Levels Obtained on Mortality with Sepsis and Septic Shock(2018) Biyikli, Ebru; Kayipmaz, Afsin Emre; Kavalci, Cemil; 0000-0002-0520-0349; 0000-0003-2529-2946; 29225011; AAJ-7628-2021; AGX-8305-2022; AGG-1308-2022; AAC-2597-2020Background: Sepsis is a potentially fatal condition with high treatment costs, and is especially common among the elderly population. The emergency management of septic patients has gained importance. Objective: Herein, we investigated the effect of admission lactate levels and the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) on the 30-day mortality among patients older than 65 years who were diagnosed with sepsis and septic shock according to the qSOFA criteria at our hospital's emergency department. Methods: This observational study was conducted retrospectively. We obtained information regarding patients' demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, hemodynamic parameters at admission, initial treatment needs at the emergency department. Results: 131 patients received a diagnosis of sepsis and septic shock at our emergency department in two years. Among these, 45% (n=59) of the patients died within 30 days of admission. Forty (30.5%) patients required mechanical ventilation. There was a significant difference between the survival and non-survival groups with regard to systolic and diastolic blood pressures (p = 0.013 and 0.045, respectively). There were significant differences between the two groups with respect to the Glasgow Coma Scale score (p < 0.001) and BUN levels (p < 0.001). The mortality status according to qSOFA scores was revealed a significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our results showed that the patients who died within 30 days of admission and those who did not had comparable PLR and lactate levels (p=0.821 and 0.120, respectively). We opine that serial lactate measurements would be more useful than a single admission lactate measurement for the prediction of mortality. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Inc.Item Should We Remember Adrenal Insufficiency in Acute Gastroenteritis?(2016) Unler, Gulhan Kanat; Gokturk, Huseyin Savas; Ozgur, Gulsum Teke; Togan, Turhan; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0182-002XIntroduction: Cortisol, which is released from the adrenal cortex, is a steroid hormone with vital functions. Its daily release is regulated by the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-adrenal axis. In healthy people, an adequate amount of endogenous corticosteroids is synthesized in the adrenal gland in response to stressful events, but in patients with adrenal insufficiency, there is a steroid synthesis defect that prevents the patient's requirements from being met. It may be challenging to diagnose corticosteroid deficiency in some circumstances, which can lead to catastrophic consequences, including death. Case presentation: In this article, we report a patient who had been using prednisolone 5mg/day for 10 years for rheumatoid arthritis with acute gastroenteritis whose clinical condition deteriorated despite appropriate therapy for 1 week and who was subsequently diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency. Conclusion: On the basis of this case report, we remind clinicians of the necessity of rearranging steroid therapy during the course of an infectious disease in patients previously treated with prolonged steroid therapy.Item Role of Serum Procalcitonin Levels in Solid-Organ Transplant Patients(2016) Bozbas, Serife Savas; Dedekarginoglu, Balam Er; Ulubay, Gaye; Haberal, Mehmet; 0000-0002-7230-202X; 0000-0003-2478-9985; 0000-0002-3462-7632; 27805529; AAI-8064-2021; AAB-5064-2021; AAJ-8097-2021Objectives: Systemic infection is among the common complications after solid-organ transplant and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Because it has prognostic significance, timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Procalcitonin is a propeptide of calcitonin and has been increasingly used as a biomarker of bacterial infection. Here, we investigated procalcitonin's role in identifying infectious complications in solid-organ transplant recipients. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the records of 86 adult patients who underwent solid-organ transplant (between 2011 and 2015) with procalcitonin levels determined at our center. Clinical and demographic variables and laboratory data were noted. Relation between C-reactive protein and procalcitonin serum levels were compared in patients who were diagnosed as having pneumonia on clinical, microbiologic, and radiologic findings. Results: Mean age of our patients was 45.5 +/- 13.4 years (range, 18-70 y), with 61 male patients (70.9%). We included 26 liver, 44 kidney, 14 heart, and 2 heart and renal transplant recipients. Procalcitonin was positive in 43 patients (50%). Of the 39 patients who were diagnosed with pneumonia, procalcitonin was positive in 18 patients (46.2%). There was a significant correlation between serum levels of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (r = 0.45; P < .001) and neutrophil count (r = 0.24; P = .025). There was no correlation between mortality and procalcitonin level, CRP level, or leukocyte count (P > .05). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that procalcitonin is a promising biomarker to detect infectious complications in transplant recipients. Physical examination and radiologic findings of bacterial pneumonia may be nonspecific, and in a considerable number of immunocompromised patients the site of infection could not be identified. Serum levels of procalcitonin should not be used as sole criteria for clinical decision making; however, it can guide us in therapy of such conditions in addition to currently used serum markers of infection.Item Culture-Positive Pulmonary Aspergillosis Infection: Clinical and Laboratory Features of Solid-Organ Transplant Recipient(2017) Dedekarginoglu, Balam Er; Bozbas, Serife Savas; Ulubay, Gaye; Eyuboglu, Fusun Oner; Haberal, Mehmet; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7230-202X; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2478-9985; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5525-8207; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3462-7632; 28260471; AAI-8064-2021; AAB-5064-2021; AAR-4338-2020; AAJ-8097-2021Objectives: Aspergillosis is a common fungal infection among solid-organ transplant recipients. Even after awareness of this infection occurs, there are still gaps in nonculture diagnostic tests, which can delay treatment initiation. Here, we aimed to define the common traits of pulmonary aspergillosis infection among solid-organ transplant recipients, thus shedding light on prevention and early diagnosis. Materials and Methods: We conducted a database search of patients at Baskent University who had a positive aspergillosis culture between January 2010 and March 2016. Among 20 patients identified, 15 (mean age of 50.93 +/- 11.17 y, 2 female and 13 male patients) with solid-organ transplant were included in the study. Results: Of the 15 study patients, 7 were heart transplant, 6 were kidney transplant, and 2 were liver transplant recipients. Three patients had positive aspergillosis cultures from extrapulmonary specimens (1 brain biopsy and 2 wound swap cultures). Other patients with positive cultures were from broncho alveolar lavage (6 patients), sputum (4 patients), both bronchoalveolar lavage and sputum (1 patient), and deep tracheal aspiration specimen (1 patient). Aspergillus fumigatus was the most common species. Mean hospitalization duration was 31.53 days (range, 2-135 d). Although all patients had positive culture results, 7 patients (46.7%) had negative galacto mannan test results at the time of culture specimen collection. Positive galactomannan test results were statistically higher in 6 heart transplant patients (P = .045). All patients had fever at presentation, and 13 patients had been referred to the pulmonary disease department before positive culture results were obtained. Conclusions: Risk factors for pulmonary aspergillosis and its clinical presentation in solid-organ transplant recipients are still unclear. Although the expected time for aspergillosis infection in solid-organ transplant recipients is 6 months after transplant, clinicians must remember the nonspecific presentation of infections in these patients and be aware of the reliability of diagnostic tools.Item Utility of Mean Platelet Volume to Diagnose Pneumonia in Patients With Solid-Organ Transplant(2018) Ulubay, Gaye; Soy, Ebru Ayvazoglu; Serifoglu, Irem; Sozen, Fisun; Moray, Gokhan; Haberal, Mehmet; 0000-0003-2478-9985; 0000-0002-0993-9917; 0000-0002-1951-2693; 0000-0003-2498-7287; 0000-0002-3462-7632; 29528024; AAB-5064-2021; AAC-5566-2019; AAS-6628-2021; AAC-1823-2021; AAE-1041-2021; AAJ-8097-2021Objectives: Despite improved success with solid-organ transplant procedures, recipients remain at risk for infections, including pneumonia, due to their immunosuppressive regimens. In solid-organ transplant patients, clinical findings of pneumonia can be nonspecific, and diagnosis of pneumonia may be difficult as several conditions (drug lung, hypervolemia, infections, hemorrhage) can led to pulmonary infiltrates, mimicking pneumonia in these patients. The role of mean platelet volume, a predictor of inflammatory disease, with elevated values inversely correlated with inflammatory problems, in the diagnosis of pneumonia has not yet been investigated in solid-organ transplant patients. Here, we retrospectively investigated mean platelet volume in diagnosis of pneumonia in transplant patients. Materials and Methods: Medical records of solid-organ transplant patients from 2011 to 2016 were reviewed for demographic, clinical, radiographic, laboratory, and microbiology data. Transplant type, immunosuppressive drugs, and clinical outcomes were noted. Pneumonia diagnosis was based on clinical respiratory symptoms and signs, imaging findings, positive microbiological tests, pathologic findings, laboratory findings, or effective clinical treatment trials. Results: Our study included 70 patients (47 male/23 female; mean age of 46 +/- 14 years), comprising 26 liver and 44 renal transplant recipients. Pneumonia was diagnosed radiologically in 30 patients (42.9%), with procalcitonin positive in 11 patients (36.7%), C-reactive protein elevated in 29 patients (96.7%), and leukocytes increased in 6 patients (20%). When laboratory measurements were compared with mean platelet volume, mean platelet volume values were significantly lower in patients with pneumonia who had elevated procalcitonin levels (P=.038). Conclusions: We found that mean platelet volume for diagnosis of pneumonia in solid-organ transplant patients was not a promising tool. Considering the difficulties in caring for transplant patients with pulmonary infiltrates, clinical decisions should be based on clinical, laboratory, microbiological, and radiologic findings.Item Spontaneous Corpus Cavernosum Abscess in a Healthy Man Using Long-Term Androgenic Anabolic Steroids(2015) Tuzel, Emre; 25927061Abscess formation of the corpus cavernosum is very rare. Here, we report a case of long-term anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse that is suspected to have facilitated the development of a corpus cavernosum abscess in a healthy bodybuilder. Cultures obtained from the abscess contained Staphylococcus epidermidis, a microorganism that almost exclusively affects immuno-compromised patients. Therefore, prompt drainage of pus from cavernosal bodies should be the primary aim of the treatment. This case illustrates the potential danger of AAS suppressing the immune system and causing a serious infection.