Meningococcal disease in a kidney transplant recipient with mannose-binding lectin deficiency.

Abstract

We describe the case of a kidney transplant recipient who developed meningococcemia, without meningeal signs, 2 months after transplantation. Plasma levels of complement components C3, C4, and CH 50 were within the normal range. However, using a method to screen for the functional activity of all 3 pathways of complement, no activation via the mannose-binding lectin (MBL) pathway could be detected (0%). A subsequent quantification of MBL pathway components revealed normal levels of MASP 2 but undetectable amounts of MBL. To our knowledge, this is the first report of meningococcal disease after organ transplantation in a patient with MBL deficiency.

• Authors: O Manuel, P E Tarr, J-P Venetz, M Trendelenburg, P R Meylan, M Pascual
• Journal: Transplant infectious disease : an official journal of the Transplantation Society (Transpl Infect Dis) Vol. 9 Issue 3 Pg. 214-8 (Sep 2007) ISSN: 1398-2273 [Print] Denmark
• PMID: 17692067 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Mannose-Binding Lectin

Topics

• Adult
• Complement Pathway, Mannose-Binding Lectin (immunology)
• Humans
• Kidney Transplantation
• Male
• Mannose-Binding Lectin (deficiency, metabolism)
• Meningococcal Infections (immunology, metabolism, microbiology)
• Neisseria meningitidis (immunology)
• Postoperative Complications