ABSTRACT
Introduction: Pancreatitis is a very common gastrointestinal disease that results in hospital admission. Early detection and treatment leads to better outcomes. This is the first reported case of pancreatitis secondary to elevated tacrolimus in a patient with prior renal transplantation after receiving Paxlovid for a COVID-19 infection. Case Description/Methods: A 57-year-old male with past medical history of 4 renal transplants secondary to posterior urethral valves who presented to the emergency room with acute onset epigastric pain for 24 hours. He was on tacrolimus 5 mg every 48 hours monotherapy for his immunosuppression. 10 days prior to his presentation he had developed chills and anxiety. He tested positive for COVID-19 at that time on a home rapid test. His symptoms had not significantly improved and given his immunosuppressed state he was given Paxlovid (Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir). He took 2 days of Paxlovid, however after his second day of treatment he developed severe epigastric pain requiring him to go to the emergency room. On admission his labs were notable for a lipase of 150 U/L (ULN 63 U/L). He underwent a CT scan was notable for an enlarged pancreatic head and neck with peripancreatic fat stranding (Figure). He also had a right upper quadrant ultrasound without any cholelithiasis and only trace sludge noted. His creatinine was noted to be 1.81 mg/dl which was above his baseline of 1.2 mg/dl. His tacrolimus trough level resulted at a level 45.6 ng/ml and later peaked at 82.2 ng/ml. His liver enzymes were normal. He was treated as acute pancreatitis with hydration and his tacrolimus was held with overall clinical improvement. Discussion(s): Tacrolimus is one of the most common medications used in solid organ transplantation. It is a calcineurin inhibitor that inhibits both T-lymphocyte signal transduction and IL-2 transcription. It is metabolized by the protein CYP3A and levels are monitored closely. Paxlovid is currently prescribed as an antiviral therapy for COVID-19 infection. The ritonavir compound in Paxlovid is potent inhibitor of CYP3A. Currently the guidelines do not recommend Paxlvoid as a therapeutic in patients taking tacrolimus as there is concern about increased drug levels. There have been several case reports of pancreatitis in setting of tacrolimus. This case report helps to demonstrate the need for close monitoring of therapeutics levels, especially in medications with high risk of drug to drug interaction to help prevent serious side effects such as tacrolimus induced pancreatitis.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: IgA vasculitis is more commonly seen in the pediatric population than in adults. Rarely IgA vasculitis is associated with malignancy, most commonly solid tumor malignancies, although there are case reports of association with hematologic malignancies. We report a case of large B-cell lymphoma mimicking IgA vasculitis in a 33-year-old immunosuppressed male with a prior history of IgA vasculitis. Case Description/Methods: A 33-year-old Caucasian male post renal transplant from reflux nephropathy on chronic immunosuppression was hospitalized for postprandial epigastric abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Two years prior, he was admitted for the same symptoms, palpable purpura of the lower extremities and elevated serum IgA. Enteroscopy had shown duodenal and jejunal ulceration with biopsies staining positive for IgA, confirming IgA vasculitis. He had complete resolution with a steroid taper. His current presentation had resulted in multiple hospital admissions, but empiric trial of steroids failed to alleviate symptoms. Vitals were normal and exam was notable for epigastric tenderness. Labs were notable for WBC 19.00 x103/cmm with normal differential, hemoglobin 9.2 gm/dL (prior 11.0 gm/dL), CRP 20.7 mg/L, serum creatinine 2.7 mg/dL (prior 1.5 mg/dL), and urinalysis with proteinuria, sterile pyuria, and hematuria. CTA abdomen/pelvis revealed thickening of the duodenum with shotty mesenteric lymph nodes without ischemia. Enteroscopy revealed an erythematous duodenum and jejunum (figure A). Jejunal biopsy (figure B) revealed CD20 positive cells consistent with DLCBL (figure C). He was seen by oncology and treated with R-CHOP but later unfortunately expired due to COVID-19 complications. Discussion(s): Non small cell lung cancer and renal cell carcinoma are most commonly associated with IgA vasculitis. It may also be seen in both Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphomas in adult patients. If IgA vasculitis occurs after a malignancy is diagnosed, it may indicate that metastasis has occurred. Malignancy associated IgA vasculitis is more likely to have an incomplete response to steroids and requires treatment of the underlying malignancy to achieve remission. Our case illustrates posterior probability error and premature closure cognitive biases. We should consider alternative diagnoses rather than anchor on prior diagnoses even when presentations are similar. Our case also highlights the importance of considering occult malignancy in adults with diagnosis of IgA vasculitis.