Electroconvulsive Therapy in a Renal Transplantation Patient: ARare Combination of Disease and Treatment

The safety and efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for the treatment of psychiatric disorders have been demonstrated in awide variety of patients, including postoperative patients and those who are pregnant. While several reports highlight the safety ofthis treatment in heart and liver transplantation patients, there is a relative lack of literature detailing the safety profile of ECT in anindividual with recent kidney transplantation. Here, we explore the case of a patient with a recent renal transplant secondary todiabetes-related end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who underwent a successful course of ECT treatment. A 57-year-old Caucasianmale with a past psychiatric history of schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, and a past medical history of end-stage renaldisease with recent right renal transplantation was admitted to the inpatient psychiatry unit. The admission was via a temporarydetention order (TDO) for suicidality and auditory hallucinations promoting self-harm. The patient’s depressive and delusionalhistory was well-documented and had been refractory to several courses of psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic management.Electroconvulsive therapy was subsequently initiated and was well-tolerated. Treatments progressively alleviated his depressiveand psychotic symptoms and did not adversely affect the function of his transplanted kidney, which was closely monitoredthroughout the treatment process. This case demonstrated the safety and efficacy of ECT treatment in an individual with recentrenal transplant and may prompt further trials into establishing safety and efficacy in larger study populations.