West Nile virus encephalitis in kidney transplanted patient, first case in Hungary: Case report

The complications caused by the rarely viral infections are more frequently treated in ICU (intensive care unit). The world paid attention to the WNV (West Nile virus) infections only in 1999, when 62 meningoencephalitis were registered in New York State. Six cases of WNV occur annually in Hungary. The authors present the first transplanted Hungarian patient with WNV encephalitis. The patient was hospitalized with epigastric pain, diarrhea, continuous fever, and decreasing amount of urine. The first checkup of infectious diseases was without any result. Although using of empirical antimicrobal therapy, the multiorgan failure patient remained febrile. On the basis of clinical signs, meningitis or encephalitis was suspected despite negative results of repeated cultures. On the 8th day, WNV infection was confirmed by serological examinations. With intravenous immunoglobulin therapy used within confines of supportive treatment, the patient became afebrile. After 21 days in ICU with good graft function, the patient was moved to the ward and he left the hospital after two more weeks. Until now, no prophylactic or etiological treatment has been developed for WNV. The early treatment is done with immunoglobulin or interferon; otherwise therapy has only supportive function. The disease caused by virus is more aggressive in transplanted patients and could be caused death.