Post-Renal Transplant Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP): Attributable to Immunosuppression or Graft Rejection: Report of Three Cases and Literature Review

摘要

The immunomodulatory drug FK-506 (Tacrolimus) is a calcineurin inhibitor that, as such, indirectly inhibits the transcription of a gene encoding interleukin 2, a cytokine that is vital to the immune response process. Since its introduction in 1987, sporadic reports have appeared describing the development of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) - or a similar syndrome - in patients taking this drug. Sirolimus (Rapamune) is another immunomodulatory drug with a more favorable side-effects profile than calcineurin inhibitors.