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Abstract: SA-PO881

Case Reports of Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole-Induced Pancreatitis Confirmed With a Lymphocyte Transformation Test

Session Information

Category: Transplantation

  • 2002 Transplantation: Clinical

Authors

  • Kim, Jin Chul, Seoul Saint Mary's Hospital, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
  • Lee, Hanbi, Seoul Saint Mary's Hospital, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
  • Chung, Byung ha, Seoul Saint Mary's Hospital, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
Introduction

Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) received trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) in early days of transplantation and during and after anti-rejection treatment for Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) prophylaxis. TMP/SMX is one of the possible drugs that induce acute pancreatitis. The lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) is a safe diagnostic procedure for drug allergy but is reported to be rarely performed to find association between TMP/SMX and drug-induced acute pancreatitis (DIAP). Here we report two cases of TMP/SMX induced pancreatitis confirmed by rechallenging and LTT in KTRs.

Case Description

A 64-year-old man complained with epigastric pain during desensitization for ABO and human leukocyte antigen incompatible living donor kidney transplantation (KT). DIAP was suspected, based on his medical history including 8 days exposure of TMP/SMX without obvious cause. The LTT for TMP/SMX was performed and the result was positive. After quitting TMP/SMX, pancreatitis was resolved. Then he underwent KT without prevention of PJP. Since he developed PJP 2 months post-transplant, TMP/SMX was started. Three days after exposure acute pancreatitis was developed. A 58-year-old man developed acute pancreatitis 6 days after exposure of TMP/SMX, during anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) infusion for treatment of acute T-cell mediated rejection (TCMR). After discontinuing suspected drugs including TMP/SMX, acute pancreatitis improved. Three months later, he readmitted with acute TCMR and infused ATG with TMP/SMX for prevention of PJP. 1 day after exposure, amylase level elevated. At that time, LTT for TMP/SMX was performed and the result was positive.

Discussion

Acute pancreatitis is a rare but life-threatening complication in patients with transplanted kidney if not properly managed. DIAP accounts for 0.1~2% of acute pancreatitis and more than 120 drugs are known to cause DIAP. Although previously TMP/SMX reported as a causative drug of DIAP, it was just suspected with cause-and-effect relationship and repeated episodes of adverse events. Above 2 patients were diagnosed with TMP/SMX induced pancreatitis by rechallenging and the results of LTT, which is known as an adjunctive diagnostic tool for hypersensitivity reactions, confirmed the diagnosis. These cases suggest TMP/SMX should be considered as a causative drug in case of acute pancreatitis in KTRs.