Unusual Pathology in a Kidney from a Heart-Transplant Patient

Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is often observed after heart transplantation. In this setting, acute tubular necrosis is the main histological finding on kidneys. We report the unusual pathology found in a kidney from a heart-transplant patient. The patient experienced several hemodynamic insults, massive transfusion, and implantation of a mechanical circulatory-support device before heart transplantation: there was prolonged AKI after transplantation. A kidney biopsy revealed acute tubular necrosis and renal hemosiderosis, which was probably related to the transfusion and to mechanical circulatory-support device-induced intravascular hemolysis. Assessment of iron during resuscitation could have prevented, at least partly, AKI.