Donor-derived myeloid sarcoma in a kidney transplant recipient: clinical case study and relevance of a multidisciplinary approach in therapy and diagnosis

Abstract

Background. Malignant tumors are one of the main causes of unfavorable outcomes in solid organ transplant recipients in the long term after transplantation. Localization of these tumors in a transplanted organ may cause loss of graft function. After chronic graft dysfunction and infections, malignant neoplasms come next as one of the leading causes of late kidney graft loss. The incidence of different types of malignancies varies according to the transplanted organ. Knowledge of etiology, pathogenesis, peculiarities of diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors in solid organ transplant recipients is a significant part of screening at any stage of post-transplant period. Late diagnosis of malignancies in a transplanted kidney amidst disconnected stages of treatment and follow-up leads not only to graft loss, but also jeopardizes the life of recipients.Clinical case description. The patient is a 29-year-old female. History: IgA nephropathy with nephrosclerosis. Renal replacement therapy (RRT) with long-term hemodialysis since March 2019. Kidney transplantation from a deceased donor to the right external iliac vessels on March 13, 2019. Graft function is immediate. In October 2020, a tumor in the transplanted kidney was detected for the first time. In November 2021, an emergency graft nephrectomy was performed for health reasons. Antibacterial, antifungal therapy was carried out. Results of morphological study of the removed renal graft with immunohistochemistry (IHC) were obtained. The structure and phenotype of the tumor are consistent with myeloid sarcoma. Trephine biopsy: normocellular bone marrow.Conclusion. The 29-year-old patient was diagnosed with donor-derived myeloid sarcoma in her kidney transplant with the development of paraneoplastic syndrome and multi-organ failure. Currently, the patient is receiving RRT by long-term scheduled hemodialysis. Organ recipients need to be managed by a multidisciplinary team of specialized and highly specialized specialists, taking into account comorbid status and features of the course of the underlying disease.