Hyperkalemia associated with cyclosporine (CsA) use in bone marrow transplantation

Isolated hyperkalemia associated with cyclosporine administration in allogeneic stem cell transplantation for renal cell carcinoma

Two patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and received cyclosporine (CSP) as part of their immunosuppressive therapy. Despite adequate renal function, both patients developed hyperkalemia. CSP was the only pharmaceutical agent to which this electrolyte abnormality could be attributed. Evaluation of renal tubule function suggested that CSP-associated isolated hyperkalemia resulted from tubular resistance to aldosterone. We propose that the presence of a single functional kidney may be a risk factor for isolated hyperkalemia due to CSP.

Severe metabolic abnormalities after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

Severe metabolic abnormalities occurring within 100 days after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) were investigated in 311 patients. The metabolic abnormalities included hyper- and hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, hyper- and hypokalemia, hyper- and hyponatremia, hyper- and hypomagnesemia, hypercholesterolemia, hyper- and hypoglycemia, and hyperuricemia. Severe abnormalities, defined as grades III-V by NCI CTCAE v3.0, occurred in 269 patients (86.5%). Multivariate analysis revealed that patients with moderate-to-severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease had significantly higher risk for the occurrence of severe metabolic abnormalities. Grades III-IV acute graft-versus-host disease was the most frequently associated with individual metabolic abnormalities. Patients with at least one severe metabolic abnormality had significantly higher day 100 nonrelapse mortality (P=0.015) and lower 5-year overall survival (P=0.002) than those without severe abnormalities. The number of metabolic abnormalities also stratified the patients with different clinical outcomes. In conclusion, severe metabolic abnormalities occurring within 100 days after allogeneic HCT were common, and their occurrence was significantly associated with inferior clinical outcomes. These results indicate that metabolic parameters should be monitored in patients undergoing allogeneic HCT and that the occurrence of severe metabolic abnormalities should be considered an important toxicity parameter in prospective clinical trials regarding allogeneic HCT.

Aldosterone resistance in kidney transplantation is in part induced by a down-regulation of mineralocorticoid receptor expression1

BACKGROUND

After renal transplantation immunosuppressive drugs-like cyclosporin A (CsA) and FK506 induce either hypoaldosteronism or pseudo-hypoaldosteronism presenting with hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis. We investigated the relationship between renal allograft function under CsA therapy and plasma aldosterone concentration, potassium- and water homeostasis and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) expression level in peripheral leukocytes.

METHODS

We studied 21 renal transplant patients under CsA therapy and 12 healthy controls. Transplant recipients were studied before and under fludrocortisone treatment. Using quantitative reverse-phase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) specific for the MR, we analyzed the level of expression of MR in peripheral leukocytes.

RESULTS

In acidotic transplant recipients (HCO(3) 18.5 +/- 1.2 mM) renal function was only slightly impaired with 2.0 +/- 0.2 mg creatinine/dL when compared with 1.8 +/- 0.3 mg/dL (ns) in non-acidotic patients (HCO(3) 23.0 +/- 2.8 mM). Mean plasma aldosterone levels in renal transplant recipients did not differ from control levels (150 +/- 33 pg/mL vs. 148 +/- 33 pg/mL, ns). In contrast, the expression level of MR in peripheral leukocytes of renal transplant recipients treated with CsA was significantly decreased when compared with healthy controls without renal disease (120 +/- 78 vs. 423 +/- 73 RNA molecules/0.5 microg total RNA, p < 0.01). The level of expression of MR in renal transplant recipients did not differ between acidotic patients and non-acidotic patients (ns). The application of fludrocortisone reversed hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis without significant effect on MR expression.

CONCLUSIONS

The present data demonstrate that hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis following CsA treatment in kidney transplantation might be associated with a down-regulation of MR expression on peripheral leukocytes. Electrolyte imbalance is reversible on application of fludrocortisone. This observation supports fludrocortisone treatment in transplant patients with severe electrolyte disturbances.

Cyclosporine-associated hyperkalemia: report of four allogeneic blood stem-cell transplant cases

BACKGROUND

Nephrotoxicity is a well-known effect of cyclosporine (CsA) that causes a reduction in glomerular filtration rate through vasoconstriction of the afferent glomerular arterioles and may result in acute renal failure. Isolated CsA-induced hyperkalemia occurring through different mechanisms is also common. However, there are only a few "case reports" addressing this phenomenon in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation patients. In this report, we propose mechanisms and methods of managing CsA-associated hyperkalemia in allogeneic transplantation.

METHODS

We report on four allogeneic blood stem- cell transplant cases and a review of the literature.

RESULTS

Four adult leukemia patients underwent allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation and received CsA as a part of their graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis. The patients developed hyperkalemia, despite adequate kidney function. CsA seemed to be the only pharmaceutical agent to which this electrolyte abnormality could be attributed. Renal tubule dysfunction and secondary hypoaldosteronism seemed to be the reasons for CsA-associated hyperkalemia.

CONCLUSION

This report of four cases demonstrates that CsA should be considered among the possible causes of hyperkalemia in bone marrow transplantation. There may be a need for urgent intervention depending on the severity of hyperkalemia. Monitoring of blood CsA level and dose adjustment are important for the prevention of this complication.