Open AccessHigh prevalence of ovarian cysts in premenopausal women receiving sirolimus and tacrolimus after clinical islet transplantation
Author(s) -
Alfadhli Eman,
Koh Angela,
Albaker Waleed,
Bhargava Ravi,
Ackerman Thomas,
McDonald Charlotte,
Ryan Edmond A.,
Shapiro A. M. James,
Senior Peter A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
transplant international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.998
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1432-2277
pISSN - 0934-0874
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-2277.2009.00839.x
Subject(s) - medicine , transplantation , islet , urology , sirolimus , tacrolimus , cyst , gynecology , surgery , diabetes mellitus , endocrinology
Summary We encountered an unexpectedly high rate of ovarian cysts in premenopausal women receiving sirolimus and tacrolimus following islet transplantation. The goal of this retrospective chart review was to determine the frequency of ovarian cysts found on pelvic ultrasound examinations of female islet transplant recipients and to look for potential causal factors. Fifty‐seven women with a median age of 42.5 years underwent islet transplantation at the University of Alberta. Ovarian cysts were found in 31 out of 44 (70.5%) premenopausal and two out of 13 (15.4%) postmenopausal women ( P = 0.001). No women using combined oral contraception developed ovarian cysts. Eight women required surgery; in four women undergoing cystectomy or unilateral oophorectomy, ovarian cysts recurred. Sirolimus withdrawal was associated with a reduction in cyst size and resolution of cysts in 80% of subjects. The risk of ovarian cysts should be discussed with female islet transplant candidates and pelvic ultrasounds performed routinely post‐transplant.