Skin Disorders in Organ Transplant Recipients

SINCE THE early 1960s, more than 400 000 transplantations of various organs have been performed worldwide. Dermatologists play an increasingly important role in the diagnosis and management of the common skin problems experienced by these patients. Some kind of dermatologic lesion has been found in 45% to 100% of patients examined.1-3Four major categories of skin lesions can be identified. The first category includes side effects of the immunosuppressive agents, mainly cushingoid effects of prednisone therapy (buffalo hump, moon face, acne, striae, facial erythema, increased hair growth, dry skin, atrophic and friable skin, purpura, and telangiectasia), and hypertrichosis, sebaceous hyperplasia, epidermal cysts, pilar keratosis, and gum hypertrophy caused by cyclosporine administration.1-6The second category includes various types of bacterial infection that, at times, may be life-threatening; fungal infections (pityriasis versicolor, candidiasis, tinea, and onychomycosis); and viral infections (herpes simplex, herpes zoster, varicella, and warts).1,3-6Warts are