Unusual case of tacrolimus vascular toxicity after deceased donor renal transplantation

We report a case of tacrolimus vascular toxicity found on a protocol biopsy shortly after a deceased donor renal transplantation. The patient was immunologically high-risk and acute antibody-mediated rejection during post-transplant dialysis phase was suspected on the protocol biopsy. Although the patient was stable after treatment of rejection, a further examination showed a very rare but specific side-effect of tacrolimus. It is sometimes difficult to make a differential diagnosis during postoperative dialysis period among AMR, primary non-functioning, drug toxicity, infection or just prolonged recovery from the damage of a long agonal phase on the non-heart beating donor. Although the possibilities of coexistence of rejection or other causes such as infection have not been completely excluded, it is important to be aware of this unusual side effect of tacrolimus.