A liver transplant patient developed renal injury on tacrolimus and experienced worsening renal function and rhabdomyolysis after switching to sirolimus: a case report

Abstract Renal impairment and rhabdomyolysis are rare in transplant patients receiving sirolimus. We report the case of a 54-year-old male who underwent liver transplantation and was initially treated with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and glucocorticoids for immunosuppression. After the develo...

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Main Authors: Chang Gao, Zhi-Yu Chen, Liang Ma, Shen-Ju Gou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Nephrology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-024-03874-7
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author Chang Gao
Zhi-Yu Chen
Liang Ma
Shen-Ju Gou
author_facet Chang Gao
Zhi-Yu Chen
Liang Ma
Shen-Ju Gou
author_sort Chang Gao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Renal impairment and rhabdomyolysis are rare in transplant patients receiving sirolimus. We report the case of a 54-year-old male who underwent liver transplantation and was initially treated with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and glucocorticoids for immunosuppression. After the development of renal dysfunction, tacrolimus was replaced with sirolimus. However, one month after taking sirolimus, the patient’s renal function continued to deteriorate, and rhabdomyolysis developed one and a half months later. Serum analysis indicated high sirolimus concentration, whereas renal histopathology revealed acute tubular injury and interstitial arteriopathy. After reducing the dosage of sirolimus, the patient’s creatine kinase levels returned to normal, and renal function improved. Two years after discharge, the patient’s renal function had recovered. This case highlights the importance of monitoring sirolimus blood concentrations in clinical practice, because elevated drug concentrations can lead to renal dysfunction and rhabdomyolysis as adverse reactions. Further investigations into the pathogenic mechanisms of sirolimus-induced renal dysfunction and rhabdomyolysis may contribute to clinical practice.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1471-2369
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
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series BMC Nephrology
spelling doaj-art-9115ae3981ac4abe9c1dc58d88a8ef4e2024-12-08T12:21:37ZengBMCBMC Nephrology1471-23692024-12-012511810.1186/s12882-024-03874-7A liver transplant patient developed renal injury on tacrolimus and experienced worsening renal function and rhabdomyolysis after switching to sirolimus: a case reportChang Gao0Zhi-Yu Chen1Liang Ma2Shen-Ju Gou3Department of Nephrology, Kidney Research Institute, West China Hospital of Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Nephrology, Kidney Research Institute, West China Hospital of Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Nephrology, Kidney Research Institute, West China Hospital of Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Nephrology, Kidney Research Institute, West China Hospital of Sichuan UniversityAbstract Renal impairment and rhabdomyolysis are rare in transplant patients receiving sirolimus. We report the case of a 54-year-old male who underwent liver transplantation and was initially treated with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and glucocorticoids for immunosuppression. After the development of renal dysfunction, tacrolimus was replaced with sirolimus. However, one month after taking sirolimus, the patient’s renal function continued to deteriorate, and rhabdomyolysis developed one and a half months later. Serum analysis indicated high sirolimus concentration, whereas renal histopathology revealed acute tubular injury and interstitial arteriopathy. After reducing the dosage of sirolimus, the patient’s creatine kinase levels returned to normal, and renal function improved. Two years after discharge, the patient’s renal function had recovered. This case highlights the importance of monitoring sirolimus blood concentrations in clinical practice, because elevated drug concentrations can lead to renal dysfunction and rhabdomyolysis as adverse reactions. Further investigations into the pathogenic mechanisms of sirolimus-induced renal dysfunction and rhabdomyolysis may contribute to clinical practice.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-024-03874-7SirolimusLiver transplantationRhabdomyolysisRenal dysfunction
spellingShingle Chang Gao
Zhi-Yu Chen
Liang Ma
Shen-Ju Gou
A liver transplant patient developed renal injury on tacrolimus and experienced worsening renal function and rhabdomyolysis after switching to sirolimus: a case report
BMC Nephrology
Sirolimus
Liver transplantation
Rhabdomyolysis
Renal dysfunction
title A liver transplant patient developed renal injury on tacrolimus and experienced worsening renal function and rhabdomyolysis after switching to sirolimus: a case report
title_full A liver transplant patient developed renal injury on tacrolimus and experienced worsening renal function and rhabdomyolysis after switching to sirolimus: a case report
title_fullStr A liver transplant patient developed renal injury on tacrolimus and experienced worsening renal function and rhabdomyolysis after switching to sirolimus: a case report
title_full_unstemmed A liver transplant patient developed renal injury on tacrolimus and experienced worsening renal function and rhabdomyolysis after switching to sirolimus: a case report
title_short A liver transplant patient developed renal injury on tacrolimus and experienced worsening renal function and rhabdomyolysis after switching to sirolimus: a case report
title_sort liver transplant patient developed renal injury on tacrolimus and experienced worsening renal function and rhabdomyolysis after switching to sirolimus a case report
topic Sirolimus
Liver transplantation
Rhabdomyolysis
Renal dysfunction
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-024-03874-7
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