Pulmonary hemorrhage with capillaritis secondary to mycophenolate mofetil in a heart-transplant patient

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2013 Nov;137(11):1684-7. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2012-0460-CR.

Abstract

Immunosuppressive drugs are an integral part of therapy in organ transplantation. However, they are not without side effects, and although rare, these agents should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary complications in patients receiving transplants. We present a case of a patient who developed acute respiratory failure 7 days after orthotopic heart transplantation and who had been on both mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus agents. Lung biopsy revealed features of pulmonary hemorrhage with capillaritis. Considered as a possible etiology, MMF was withdrawn. There was immediate improvement of the patient's symptoms. The temporal relationship between MMF exposure and onset of pulmonary symptoms in the absence of other possible etiologies strongly suggests a causal relationship. Previously published reports of pulmonary toxicity from MMF included interstitial fibrosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pulmonary hemorrhage with capillaritis because of administration of MMF.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Heart Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced*
  • Hemorrhage / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Lung Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Lung Diseases / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycophenolic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Mycophenolic Acid / adverse effects
  • Mycophenolic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Tacrolimus / administration & dosage
  • Vasculitis / chemically induced*
  • Vasculitis / pathology

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Mycophenolic Acid
  • Tacrolimus