Renal Case #2

case continues:
  • A 40 year old black man with end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis for 6 years receives a cadaveric kidney transplant.
  • Post-transplant, he has some problems with rejection, requiring large doses of steroids for control.
  • He is discharged from the hospital 3 weeks after transplantation with a serum creatinine of 2.6 mg/dL.
  • His discharge medications include cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), azathioprine (Imuran), prednisone, furosemide (Lasix), amlodipine (Norvasc), and acyclovir.
  • His BP is 140/86 and his weight is 75 kg.
  • Post-transplant care occurs smoothly for several months, except that you notice that he is gaining weight.
  • Four months after transplantation, his weight is 90 kg, his BP is 160/96, he has 2+ peripheral edema, his serum creatinine is 3.0 mg/dL, and his fasting serum glucose is 210 mg/dL. In addition, he has developed an upper respiratory infection with a dry cough and fever.

Unknown to you, an emergency department physician has started this patient on oral erythromycin for his upper respiratory infection. Could this medication contribute to the current problems?