Post Kidney Transplant Cyclosporine-Induced Acute Pancreatitis

Drug-induced pancreatitis (DIP) is a rare cause of acute pancreatitis. Efforts have been made to assess the relationship between many drugs and acute pancreatitis. Also, studies have been held to investigate the possible mechanisms of DIP. Cyclosporine is one of the immunosuppressive agents that is still under investigation regarding its association with acute pancreatitis. We report a case of a 21-year-old male patient post kidney transplant who presented with a picture of acute pancreatitis; upon further investigation, the diagnosis of cyclosporine-induced pancreatitis was made by ruling out all other possible causes of acute pancreatitis. Furthermore, he showed significant improvement and was discharged home upon stopping cyclosporine and replacing it with sirolimus, and there was no relapse of pancreatitis in three months of follow-up. Our case provides evidence that cyclosporine can be a possible cause of pancreatitis in post kidney transplant patients receiving cyclosporine, and how early detection of cyclosporine-induced pancreatitis can significantly improve the patient's condition.