Sirolimus-Induced Interstitial Pneumonitis in an Islet Transplant Recipient
- Benigno J. Digon III, MD,
- Kristina I. Rother, MD,
- Boaz Hirshberg, MD and
- David M. Harlan, MD
- From the Transplantation and Autoimmunity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland
- Address correspondence to David M. Harlan, MD, Captain, U.S. Public Health Service Chief, NIDDK Transplantation and Autoimmunity Branch, National Institutes of Health, DHHS Building 10, Room 8N307, Bethesda, MD 20892. E-mail:
Islet transplantation can now result in markedly improved metabolic control for a subset of individuals with “brittle” type 1 diabetes. Yet, the immunosuppression required to prevent allograft rejection may come at a high price. We report the first case of an islet transplant recipient with sirolimus-induced interstitial pneumonitis.
A 59-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes since age 7 years became insulin independent after two islet infusions. She developed a gradually worsening, nonproductive cough 68 weeks after transplantation. At that time, her medication consisted of sirolimus, tacrolimus, filgrastim, aspirin, pravastatin, magnesium, …
