Increased risk of venous thromboembolism with a sirolimus-based immunosuppression regimen in lung transplantation

Sirolimus (rapamycin) is a potent anti-proliferative agent with immunosuppressive properties that is increasingly being used in solid-organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In addition, this drug is being investigated for treatment of a broad range of disorders, including cardiovascular disease, malignancies, tuberous sclerosis, and lymphangeioleiomyomatosis. In this study, we found an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in lung transplant recipients treated with a sirolimus (SIR)-based immunosuppressive regimen.

One hundred eighty-one lung transplant recipients were enrolled in a prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label trial comparing a tacrolimus (TAC)/SIR/prednisone immunosuppression regimen with a TAC/azathioprine (AZA)/prednisone immunosuppressive regimen. The differences in rates of VTE were examined.

There was a significantly higher occurrence of VTE in the SIR cohort [15 of 87 (17.2%)] compared with the AZA cohort [3 of 94 (3.2%)] (stratified log-rank statistic = 7.44, p < 0.01). When adjusted for pre-transplant diagnosis and stratified by transplant center, this difference remained essentially unchanged (hazard ratio for SIR vs AZA = 5.2, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 19.5, p = 0.01).

Clinicians prescribing SIR should maintain a high level of vigilance for VTE, particularly among patients with other risk factors for this complication.