©The Author(s) 2016. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Transplant. Mar 24, 2016; 6(1): 193-198
Published online Mar 24, 2016. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v6.i1.193
Published online Mar 24, 2016. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v6.i1.193
Pentamidine in Pneumocystis jirovecii prophylaxis in heart transplant recipients
Adem Ilkay Diken, Seyhan Yılmaz, Emir Erol, Adnan Yalçınkaya, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hitit University Faculty of Medicine, 19100 Corum, Turkey
Ozlem Erçen Diken, Department of Chest Diseases, Hitit University Faculty of Medicine, 19100 Corum, Turkey
Onur Hanedan, Ata Niyazi Ecevit, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital, 06100 Ankara, Turkey
Author contributions: All authors equally contributed to this paper with conception and design of the study, literature review and analysis, drafting and critical revision and editing, and final approval of the final version.
Conflict-of-interest statement: Any author has conflict of interest.
Correspondence to: Adem Ilkay Diken, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hitit University Faculty of Medicine, Camlik Caddesi No: 2, Bahcelievler Mahallesi, 19100 Corum, Turkey. ademilkay@gmail.com
Telephone: +90-530-6873315
Received: July 22, 2015
Peer-review started: August 6, 2015
First decision: October 13, 2015
Revised: October 21, 2015
Accepted: December 7, 2015
Article in press: December 8, 2015
Published online: March 24, 2016
Processing time: 231 Days and 23.6 Hours
Peer-review started: August 6, 2015
First decision: October 13, 2015
Revised: October 21, 2015
Accepted: December 7, 2015
Article in press: December 8, 2015
Published online: March 24, 2016
Processing time: 231 Days and 23.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Trimethoprim/sulfomethoxazole (TMP/SMX), the first-line drug for pneumocystis pneumonia prophylaxis following heart transplantation, is well tolerated, however; serious side effects have also been reported during its use. Pentamidine is an alternative prophylaxis agent when TMP/SMX cannot be tolerated following solid organ transplantations. Although there are various studies evaluating the efficiency and safety of pentamidine in these groups, merely reports were found about its usage in heart transplantation recipients. This review aims to evaluate the use of pentamidine against Pneumocystis jirovecii following heart transplantation.