Successful Sirolimus Treatment of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis in a Hepatitis B Virus Carrier

Intern Med. 2019 Feb 15;58(4):569-574. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.1329-18. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Abstract

A 34-year-old woman experiencing shortness of breath was referred to our hospital. The patient was diagnosed with sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis based on the observation of bilateral diffuse multiple thin-walled cysts on computed tomography of the chest, chylous effusion, elevated serum vascular endothelial growth factor-D levels and transbronchial biopsy findings. This patient was a hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier. Treatment with 1 mg daily of sirolimus was started after HBV DNA was brought below the cut-off level using entecavir. Sirolimus was effective, as the chylous effusion resolved completely and the dyspnea improved. The sirolimus dosage was increased to 2 mg daily without causing HBV reactivation.

Keywords: entecavir; hepatitis B virus; lymphangioleiomyomas; lymphangioleiomyomatosis; sirolimus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Guanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Guanine / therapeutic use
  • Hepatitis B / physiopathology*
  • Hepatitis B virus / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Lymphangioleiomyomatosis / drug therapy*
  • Sirolimus / therapeutic use*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • entecavir
  • Guanine
  • Sirolimus