Tacrolimus-associated sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after living-related liver transplantation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14739/2310-1210.2023.5.285114

Keywords:

sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, tacrolimus, liver transplantation

Abstract

Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), previously known as hepatic veno-occlusive disease, is manifested by obliterating inflammation of the terminal hepatic veins, characterized by hepatomegaly, right upper quadrant pain, jaundice and ascites, and most often occurs in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and usually in those who received platinum-based drugs. Cases of SOS development in patients after transplantation of solid organs (lungs, pancreas, liver) are also reported in the world literature. These incidents are rare, and isolated and poorly studied after living-related liver lobe transplantation. The diagnosis is based on clinical signs, imaging techniques (according to ultrasound and radiological methods of examination), histological assessment of liver biopsy. Tacrolimus has been reported to be a causative agent that potentially plays a role in the pathophysiological mechanism of SOS.

Aim. To study the relationship between the use of prolonged-release tacrolimus and the development of SOS in patients after living-related liver transplantation.

Clinical case. In this article, we present a case of SOS after living-related liver transplantation which was associated with a toxic effect of prolonged-release tacrolimus (“Envarsus”). In a 55-year-old man, after living-related liver transplantation, high blood concentrations of tacrolimus associated with uncontrolled drug intake were detected. When performing a number of laboratory and instrumental methods of examination due to a massive ascites manifestation, the diagnosis of SOS was made. The study was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The informed consent was obtained from the patient for conducting the studies.

Conclusions. By ruling out other possible contributing factors, including an acute rejection crisis, it was concluded that prolonged-release tacrolimus (“Envarsus”) was the cause of SOS.

Author Biographies

O. H. Kotenko, Universal Clinic “Oberig”, Kyiv, Ukraine

MD, PhD, DSc, Professor, Head of the Department of Liver, Pancreas and Transplantation Surgery

A. O. Matviienkiv, Universal Clinic “Oberig”, Kyiv, Ukraine

MD, Intern, Department of Liver, Pancreas and Transplantation Surgery

M. S. Hryhorian, Universal Clinic “Oberig”, Kyiv, Ukraine

MD, Transplant Surgeon, Department of Liver, Pancreas and Transplantation Surgery

A. A. Minich, Universal Clinic “Oberig”, Kyiv, Ukraine

MD, PhD, Transplant Surgeon, Department of Liver, Pancreas and Transplantation Surgery

I. O. Kotenko, Universal Clinic “Oberig”, Kyiv, Ukraine

MD, Intern, Department of Liver, Pancreas and Transplantation Surgery

O. S. Mykhailiuk, Universal Clinic “Oberig”, Kyiv, Ukraine

MD, Transplant Surgeon, Department of Liver, Pancreas and Transplantation Surgery

References

Fan, C. Q., & Crawford, J. M. (2014, December 1). Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome (Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease). Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology. Elsevier B.V. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jceh.2014.10.002

Jiang, J. Y., Fu, Y., Ou, Y. J., & Zhang, L. D. (2022). Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome induced by tacrolimus following liver transplantation: Three case reports. World journal of clinical cases, 10(36), 13408-13417. https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v10.i36.13408

Kernan, N. A., Grupp, S., Smith, A. R., Arai, S., Triplett, B., Antin, J. H., Lehmann, L., Shore, T., Ho, V. T., Bunin, N., Iacobelli, M., Liang, W., Hume, R., Tappe, W., Soiffer, R., & Richardson, P. (2018). Final results from a defibrotide treatment-IND study for patients with hepatic veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome. British journal of haematology, 181(6), 816-827. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.15267

Li, C., Ma, H., & Sun, C. (2022). Hepatic Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome Post-Liver Transplantation: A Rare Complication of Tacrolimus. Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology, 20(3), e347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2020.08.049

Nauffal, M., Kim, H. T., Richardson, P. G., Soiffer, R. J., Antin, J. H., Cutler, C., Nikiforow, S., Gooptu, M., Koreth, J., Romee, R., & Ho, V. T. (2022). Defibrotide: real-world management of veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstructive syndrome after stem cell transplant. Blood advances, 6(1), 181-188. https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2021005410

Ruiz-Manriquez, J., Kauffman-Ortega, E., Gamboa-Dominguez, A., Ríos-Valencia, J., Ramirez-Quesada, W., & Flores-García, N. C. (2021). Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after liver transplantation: An interplay between thrombotic and immunological factors. A case report. Journal of Liver Transplantation, 2, 100018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.liver.2021.100018

Sebagh, M., Azoulay, D., Roche, B., Hoti, E., Karam, V., Teicher, E., Bonhomme-Faivre, L., Saliba, F., Duclos-Vallée, J. C., & Samuel, D. (2011). Significance of isolated hepatic veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after liver transplantation. Liver transplantation, 17(7), 798-808. https://doi.org/10.1002/lt.22282

Shen, T., Feng, X. W., Geng, L., & Zheng, S. S. (2015). Reversible sinusoidal obstruction syndrome associated with tacrolimus following liver transplantation. World journal of gastroenterology, 21(20), 6422-6426. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v21.i20.6422

Shin, N. Y., Kim, M. J., Lim, J. S., Park, M. S., Chung, Y. E., Choi, J. Y., Kim, K. W., & Park, Y. N. (2012). Accuracy of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in patients with chemotherapy-treated colorectal liver metastases. European radiology, 22(4), 864-871. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2333-x

Starzl, T. E., Porter, K. A., Mazzaferro, V., Todo, S., Fung, J., & Francavilla, A. (1991). Hepatotrophic effects of FK506 in dogs. Transplantation, 51(1), 67-70. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007890-199101000-00010

Published

2023-09-28

How to Cite

1.
Kotenko OH, Matviienkiv AO, Hryhorian MS, Minich AA, Kotenko IO, Mykhailiuk OS. Tacrolimus-associated sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after living-related liver transplantation. Zaporozhye Medical Journal [Internet]. 2023Sep.28 [cited 2024Dec.21];25(5):467-71. Available from: http://zmj.zsmu.edu.ua/article/view/285114