Baseline Quality of Life and Anxiety in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Pilot Study

Abstract

While transplant patients enjoy longer survival, the quality of the extended life has room for improvement. Future studies will determine how QOL changes over time as these patients develop more numerous and aggressive skin cancers. Intervention with regular screening may not only lessen morbidity associated with skin cancer but may improve overall QOL in the posttransplant period.

Skin cancer in solid organ transplant recipients: Advances in therapy and management

“…Intervention with regular screening may not only lessen morbidity associated with skin cancer but may improve overall quality of life in the posttransplantation period. 9 where it is sometimes difficult to determine which of the multiple keratotic lesions could represent skin cancer. Keratotic skin lesions, including actinic keratoses, warts, and papillomas, are associated with extensive areas of actinic damage, represent clinical and subclinical lesions of epidermal dysplasia, and highlight the concept of field cancerization.…”

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Preventative Management of Skin Cancers in Organ Transplant Recipients: A Review of Single- and Multicenter Retrospective Studies from 2006 to 2010

“…106 Another questionnaire-based study in which high Dermatology Life Quality Index scores reflected a significant effect of skin disease on QOL, found that patients undergoing extensive post-transplantation immunosuppressive therapy had high scores, indicating that the dermatologic complications of immunosuppressive therapy significantly impair QOL in certain patients. One survey reported that QOL was poor at baseline in 80 transplant patients and that the number of NMSCs after transplant approached significance of being indicative of higher anxiety levels.…”

“…One survey reported that QOL was poor at baseline in 80 transplant patients and that the number of NMSCs after transplant approached significance of being indicative of higher anxiety levels. 106 Another questionnaire-based study in which high Dermatology Life Quality Index scores reflected a significant effect of skin disease on QOL, found that patients undergoing extensive post-transplantation immunosuppressive therapy had high scores, indicating that the dermatologic complications of immunosuppressive therapy significantly impair QOL in certain patients. 107 As a response to these concerns, multidisciplinary approaches to the care of OTR have integrated dermatology and dermatologic surgery clinics within transplant units.…”

Skin care in solid organ transplant recipients: risk-adjusted follow-up

“…A growth progressing over 4 weeks or a wound failing to heal over 4 weeks deserve dermatological evaluation (recommendation D). Regular screening by a dermatologist has been shown to reduce the risk of associated skin cancer in the post-transplant period and to improve the overall quality of life of the patient [10]. The recommended frequency of these follow-ups largely depends on the type and history of previous skin cancer, as is shown in Table 1.…”

“…During these check-ups, patients should also be taught how to perform a monthly self-skin examination in order to spot suspicious lesions at an early stage (recommendation D). High-risk patients (i.e., those with a history of high-risk SCC, melanoma or metastatic disease) should be taught how to self-examine their lymph nodes every month [10]. A growth progressing over 4 weeks or a wound failing to heal over 4 weeks deserve dermatological evaluation (recommendation D).…”