Background: Dengue in an important endemic disease in many parts of the world. The aim of this study is to describe a case series of dengue among renal transplant recipients.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 10 consecutive renal allograft recipients, followed at a tertiary hospital in Fortaleza, Northeast of Brazil, with a confirmed diagnosis of Dengue from May 2011 to January 2014. The epidemiologic and clinical data from these patients are described.

Results: Ten renal allograft recipients with confirmed dengue viral infection were evaluated in our kidney transplant unit in the study period. Five of them needed hospitalization. Half of them were male and their age ranged from 19 to 60 years with a median of 38.2 years. They had been transplanted at a mean of 5 days to 166 months. Two patients developed dengue infection within 1 week of renal transplant and presented the more severe complications. Four patients developed dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). One patient needed nephrectomy due to uncontrolled bleeding. All patients had myalgia and headache. All of them, except one, had fever. Positive dengue serology (IgM) was found in all patients. No patient died.

Conclusion: Dengue is an important infectious disease that can affect renal transplant recipients, mainly in endemic areas. Its presentation seem to be similar to that seen in immunocompetent patients, and severe forms seem to occur less frequently. Physicians should raise the suspicion of dengue in every transplanted patients living in or returning from endemic areas presenting acute febrile illness.

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