Malakoplakia after kidney transplantation: Case report and literature review

Malakoplakia is a granulomatous disease associated with an infectious etiology, usually involving the urinary tract. It reveals itself as a recurrent urinary tract infection (r-UTI), and in some cases, it is associated with impairment of renal function. Immunosuppression is one of its main associated factors, and it has been increasingly described in patients with solid organ transplantation (SOT), mainly kidney transplantation. Macroscopically, it can form masses and sometimes it may be confused with neoplasia, which is why histological findings are fundamental for the diagnosis. Here, we present a case of bladder malakoplakia, manifested by r-UTI from Escherichia coli in a patient with renal transplantation, refractory to long-term antibiotic treatment and reduction in immunosuppression, which resolved after surgical management. We also summarize the clinical characteristics of malakoplakia and compare them with previous reports in the literature on SOT.