Cutaneous changes in renal transplant recipients - is there a relationship between benign and malignant disease?

Abstract

Renal transplant recipients are at an increased risk of many cutaneous diseases. The increased incidence of cutaneous malignancy is well recognised. Cutaneous infections and iatrogenic effects of immunosuppressive medications are also commonly observed but little has recently been reported on these and other benign cutaneous changes in renal transplant recipients. Previous studies have demonstrated that benign cutaneous findings such as viral warts and sebaceous hyperplasia may be clinical indicators for cutaneous malignancy in this immunosuppressed group. Prior to commencement of this study, it was observed clinically, in the Oxford Transplant Unit, that seborrhoeic warts were more common in those transplant recipients with skin cancer than those without.