Oral sirolimus alters the course of DIPNECH syndrome in three patients

Sirolimus, which is used to prevent rejection after kidney transplants, has been used to successfully treat three cases of a rare disorder called diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia, or DIPNECH syndrome. The syndrome is so rare that there are no clinical recommendations to guide care and, therefore, no proven therapies. The brief case report is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

DIPNECH syndrome is a that causes proliferation of in the bronchial wall and the formation of tumors. A team of researchers from the University of Tours, France, saw three women with DIPNECH syndrome, all of whom were experiencing shortness of breath. The ' symptoms were treated with bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids. Pulmonary function deteriorated in all three patients, while volume of the carcinoid tumors increased. The team began treating the patients with oral sirolimus (2 mg/day) while continuing the other treatments. However, this dose was lowered to 1 to 1.5 mg/day because the patients could not tolerate the side effects of the original dose. At the lower dose, side effects resolved. After 1 year of treatment, improved in three patients and CT scans showed reduction in both nodule volume and air trapping in two patients and progression in the third.

According to the researchers, these findings show that sirolimus could be a viable treatment for patients with this rare syndrome. To date, no other treatment has been shown to alter the course of DIPNECH syndrome. However, the researchers caution other clinicians with similar patients that further data on the safety and efficacy of drugs in the same class is required before they can be recommended for patients with this rare condition.

More information: Annals of Internal Medicine (2018). http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/L17-0634

Journal information: Annals of Internal Medicine
Citation: Oral sirolimus alters the course of DIPNECH syndrome in three patients (2018, April 9) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-04-oral-sirolimus-dipnech-syndrome-patients.html
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