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Gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to complicated gastroduodenal ulcer disease in liver transplant patients taking sirolimus
Author(s) -
Smith Alastair D,
Bai Diane,
Marroquin Carlos E,
TuttleNewhall Janet E,
Desai Dev M,
Collins Bradley H,
Muir Andrew,
Kuo Paul C,
McHutchison John,
Rockey Don C
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
clinical transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1399-0012
pISSN - 0902-0063
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2005.00332.x
Subject(s) - medicine , sirolimus , gastroduodenal ulcer , gastroenterology , liver transplantation , complication , stomach , surgery , peptic ulcer , transplantation
Sirolimus is emerging as a popular immunosuppressive agent for patients undergoing solid organ and pancreatic cell transplantation. Here, we report the clinical courses of three patients receiving sirolimus who developed aggressive gastroduodenal ulcer disease. One patient died from massive gastrointestinal bleeding, and ulcers in the other two patients healed only after discontinuation of sirolimus. We propose that the mechanism underlying this severe ulcer diathesis, and poor ulcer healing, was linked to the well‐known inhibitory effects of sirolimus on wound healing. We propose that sirolimus should be used carefully (or even withheld) in patients with known or previous ulcer disease, and further that it should be used prudently and/or in conjunction with aggressive prophylaxis therapy in those at risk for ulcer disease.