Background

Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is an uncommon polyclonal lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by the elevated levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) [1,2,3]. Although iMCD is frequently associated with lung parenchymal involvement, there have been only two reports of lung transplantation (LTx) with a short follow-up for the treatment of end-stage lung disease (ESLD) secondary to iMCD [4, 5]. Tocilizumab (TCZ; Actemra®, Roche/Genentech, San Francisco, CA, USA) is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the IL-6 receptor and is approved for the treatment of iMCD [6, 7]. However, the efficacy and tolerability of TCZ in iMCD patients undergoing LTx remain unclear. Herein, we report the case of an iMCD patient with ESLD who was treated with TCZ and later successfully underwent cadaveric single-LTx with 32 month follow-up.

Case presentation

A 30-year-old man with fever, anemia and slight enlargement of the mediastinal lymph nodes was diagnosed with iMCD via lymph node biopsy. Laboratory tests revealed elevated levels of serum total protein (11.1 g/dL), serum IL-6 (44.5 pg/mL), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) (3870 mg/dL). Since treatment with oral prednisolone (PSL) failed to suppress the symptoms of iMCD, intravenous TCZ (8 mg/kg, every 2 weeks) was administered. Although oral PSL with intravenous TCZ had controlled his iMCD symptoms without the further exacerbation of his lung disease, his respiratory function continued to decline gradually, and he was registered for cadaveric LTx at 46 years of age (Fig. 1). He required oxygen therapy at home throughout the day. IL-6 levels remained at 200–350 pg/ml after treatment with intravenous TCZ. At 48 years of age, he underwent right single-LTx from a cadaveric donor. The entire transplant process was uneventful, with slight pleural adhesions and slight enlargement of the hilar lymph nodes. Histological examination of the resected lung revealed iMCD (Fig. 2). Postoperative immunosuppression included a usual triple-drug regimen (tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and PSL). TCZ was discontinued once after LTx to prevent overimmunosuppression. The postoperative course was uneventful, and there was no infection or rejection. Serum IL-6 levels were maintained at a relatively low level (80 pg/mL) (Fig. 3), and postoperative serum IgG levels had decreased. C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels were not significantly elevated in the perioperative period (Fig. 3). At the time of the preparation of this report, 32 months after LTx, the patient remained asymptomatic, including pulmonary manifestations, and the allograft function was preserved without evidence of rejection or recurrent iMCD. In addition, laboratory tests did not demonstrate any significant adverse effects of TCZ (such as dyslipidemia or myelosuppression), cytomegalovirus infection events, or development of de novo donor-specific antibody (DSA). As IL-6 levels remained at 60–80 pg/mL (Fig. 3), the patient received intravenous TCZ treatment (8 mg/kg, every 2 weeks) under immunosuppression with a triple-drug regimen to preserve the allograft lung.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Preoperative chest computed tomography revealed thickening of the bronchovascular bundles (red arow head), ground-glass opacities, scattered cystic lesions (yellow arrow) (A), and slight enlargement of the mediastinal lymph nodes (red arrow) (B)

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Fig. 2
figure 2

Pathology of the explanted native right lung. A Lower lobe shows a cystic enlargement of the alveolar walls and interstitial infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells (hematoxylin and eosin staining, original magnification: 40 ×). B Lower lobe shows infiltration of plasma cells with interleukin-6 (IL-6)-positivity (Immunofluorescence staining of IL-6, original magnification: 100 ×)

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Fig. 3
figure 3

Postoperative course after lung transplantation. Tapering of triple immunosuppression (tacrolimus [TAC], mycophenolate mofetil [MMF], and prednisolone [PSL]) and sustained treatment with tocilizumab (TCZ) in an idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease transplant recipient. The interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels are maintained at 60–80 pg/mL, and the C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels are trending towards normal with no allograft rejection

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Discussion

We have identified two important clinical implications. Cadaveric single-LTx for ESLD secondary to iMCD can be a possible therapeutic option, and TCZ can alleviate iMCD, ensuring a stable perioperative period during and after LTx.

First, LTx is an acceptable therapeutic option for patients with iMCD and ESLD. It is generally challenging to determine an indication for LTx for the treatment of ESLD secondary to iMCD due to its characterization as a systemic disease with possible multiple organ involvement. Although lung involvement in iMCD is common, to the best of our knowledge, there have been only two reports of LTx for the treatment of ESLD secondary to iMCD [4, 5]. One of the reports with 6 month follow-up showed that single-LTx can be feasible if the clinical manifestations of iMCD, except for the lungs, are controlled [5]. In our case, in an iMCD patient with bilateral lung involvement, single-LTx was an effective treatment without any complications in the residual native lung with a follow-up period of 32 months. However, since iMCD may recur with cessation of TCZ, lifelong administration of TCZ may be necessary to protect the allograft lung and control iMCD disease activity after transplantation, regardless of the procedure of single- or bilateral-LTx [8].

Second, TCZ, in addition to standard immunosuppressive therapy using a triple-drug regimen (tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and PSL), has been useful for iMCD during and after LTx. In this case, the IL-6 level was maintained at a low level (< 100 pg/mL), even with a temporal cessation of TCZ for 28 days after LTx. Glucocorticoid use following LTx suppresses hypercytokinemia and alleviates symptoms [2], and tacrolimus prevents iMCD from worsening by suppressing inflammation of T-helper 1 cells, which is considered a pathogenesis of iMCD [9]. Furthermore, the patient experienced no apparent rejection or development of DSA during the observation period. IL-6, a major cytokine involved in the transition of B cells to IgG-secreting plasma cells and finally to plasmacytoid cells, also stimulates Th17 cells which cause inflammation and graft rejection. Recent studies suggest that TCZ inhibits antibody production and suppresses inflammation by targeting the IL-6/IL-6R pathway [10, 11]. In the field of renal transplantation, it has been reported that patients with chronic antibody-mediated rejection who failed other therapies were treated with TCZ and had a significant decrease in DSA and stable renal function after 2 years [12, 13]. Thus, TCZ can reduce the risk of chronic antibody-mediated rejection after LTx.

Notably, in this case, the serum CRP level was not significantly elevated in the perioperative period. Although CRP levels are usually elevated even in patients without signs of sepsis and who are on immunosuppressive drugs [14], suppression of CRP in patients treated with TCZ can delay the diagnosis of serious infections [15]. It should be noted that CRP levels can be elevated in the perioperative period in lung transplant patients receiving TCZ. PCT, which is a marker of bacterial infection produced by a pathway independent of IL-6, has been proposed as a preferred surrogate marker of bacterial infection during TCZ treatment [16].

Conclusion

Single-LTx can be a feasible treatment option for ESLD due to iMCD, and TCZ in combination with usual immunosuppression can be helpful in stabilizing iMCD patients pre-and post-LTx.