Diarrhea in a renal transplant patient
From IDWiki
Investigations
- Stool culture, ova and parasites, and viral PCR
- Serum CMV viral load
- Consider 14C-glycocholic acid or D-xylose breath tests, if available, for small bowel overgrowth
- Consider colonoscopy
Management
- Assess medications and stop any that may be contributing to diarrhea
- Assess for infectious causes with stool culture, O&P, and viral PCR
- Adjust immunosuppression, if able
- Colonoscopy with biopsies
- Supportive treatment with antidiarrheal medications, probiotics, and dietary modification (including lactose-free)
Further Reading
- Severe Diarrhea in Renal Transplant Patients: Results of the DIDACT Study. Am J Transplantation. 2006;6(6):1446-1472. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2006.01320.x