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Renal allograft failure in a hyperparathyroid patient following initiation of a calcimimetic

Abstract

Background. A 47-year-old man with a 6-year history of chronic dialysis for end-stage renal disease of unknown etiology presented for renal transplantation. While on dialysis, he had developed secondary hyperparathyroidism, which persisted after transplantation despite treatment with cinacalcet.

Investigations. Physical examination, serum and urine analysis, ultrasound of the renal transplant, renal biopsy, bone scintigraphy.

Diagnosis. Severe persistent hyperparathyroidism associated with mild hypercalcemia following renal transplantation. Initiation of a calcimimetic followed by fulminant graft failure. Extensive tubular calcinosis.

Management. Renal transplantation (with immunosuppressant medications: basiliximab, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, prednisolone), cinacalcet (halted on day 26 after transplantation), angiotensinconverting-enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin-receptor blocker, hydrochlorothiazide, emergency dialysis, subtotal parathyroidectomy.

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Figure 1: Laboratory test results demonstrating the clinical course of the patient following renal transplantation.
Figure 2: Histology of the renal allograft on day 24 post-transplantation and after graft recovery on day 51.

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Acknowledgements

Written consent for publication was obtained from the patient.

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All authors contributed to researching data for this article, and reviewed/edited the manuscript before submission and revised it after peer review. J. Floege also wrote the article.

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Correspondence to Claudia Seikrit.

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Competing interests

J. Floege declares that he has received honoraria and research support from Amgen. The other authors declare no competing interests.

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Seikrit, C., Mühlfeld, A., Groene, HJ. et al. Renal allograft failure in a hyperparathyroid patient following initiation of a calcimimetic. Nat Rev Nephrol 7, 237–241 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2010.169

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