Heart Transplant Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Heart Transplant, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery, organ donation.

Acute sirolimus pulmonary toxicity in an infant heart transplant recipient: case report and literature review.

Das BB, Shoemaker L, Subramanian S, Johnsrude C, Recto M, Austin EH

Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA. bbdas001@gwise.louisville.edu

Sirolimus-associated pulmonary disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome in transplant recipients receiving this drug. It represents a rare, potentially lethal, and yet reversible adverse effect. We report the case an infant who presented with acute respiratory distress 57 days after heart transplantation 3 days after starting sirolimus. The acute presentation and prompt resolution after discontinuation of this drug suggest a direct toxic effect to the lungs. To our knowledge, this is the first published pediatric description of this syndrome after heart transplantation.

Published 9 March 2007 in J Heart Lung Transplant, 26(3): 296-8.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Heart Transplant Research Today. All Rights Reserved.