Lymphedema associated to sirolimus therapy after pancreas and kidney transplantation: Case report and review of literature

José Maria Pereira de Godoy, Guilherme Beolchi, Maria de Fátima Guerreiro Godoy

Recently, the development of lymphedema has been reported in patients taking sirolimus after kidney transplantation. The objective of the current study is to report on the association of sirolimus use with the appearance of lymphedema and to suggest a palliative therapy. The case of a 25‐year‐old simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant patient, with complaints of edema of the face and lower limbs after initiating treatment with sirolimus, is reported. Lymphoscintigraphy demonstrated delay in the drainage of radiopharmaceuticals with lymph drainage improving the clinical lymphedema but not the lymphoscintigraphic pattern. It was suggested that sirolimus therapy can trigger functional lymphedema which is reversible with cessation of the drug and that lymph drainage produces clinical improvement.