Rapamycin as rescue therapy in a patient supported by biventricular assist device to heart transplantation with consecutive ongoing rejection

Am J Transplant. 2003 Feb;3(2):231-4. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-6143.2003.00030.x.

Abstract

Rapamycin is a new immunosuppressive agent that has been shown to be effective in acute heart allograft rejection. This case documents a patient suffering from cardiac sarcoidosis who was bridged to transplantation for 90 days with ongoing rejection after allograft implantation. Rejection did not abate despite treatment with antithymocyte globulin (ATG), FK506, a mycophenolate switch and courses of multiple apheresis. Initiation of rapamycin treatment resulted in a rapid resolution of cardiac rejection and reduction of concomitant immunosuppressive agents with few side-effects. Most notably was the reduction of panel reactive antibodies within a few weeks after the rapamycin initiation. This case illustrates that the utilization of rapamycin ceased ongoing rejection in a patient with a clear hyperimmune state despite prior extensive utilization of a variety of immunosuppressive strategies after heart transplantation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Graft Rejection / drug therapy*
  • Graft Rejection / etiology
  • Graft Rejection / pathology
  • Heart Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Heart-Assist Devices*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / methods
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Salvage Therapy / methods*
  • Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / surgery
  • Sirolimus / therapeutic use*
  • Time
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Sirolimus