Demodex folliculorum in renal transplant patients.

BACKGROUND

Demodex folliculorum (DF), which is a resident in human pilosebaceous follicles, has been implicated in infections of patients under cancer chemotherapy and with AIDS.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine the influence of immunosuppression on carriage of DF.

METHODS

Mite density was compared, of 30 renal transplant (RT) patients under a combination therapy of cyclosporine, azathioprine and prednisolone with that of age- and sex-matched controls. Two samples of standardized skin surface biopsies were taken from each subject.

RESULTS

DF was not found in any of the RT patients while a mean density of 0.55 DF/cm2 was present in healthy subjects (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.0001). The relationship between mite density and classic risk factors was not found to be statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that there may be other factors than immunosuppressive therapy influencing DF density.