Post-renal transplant syndrome of transient lower limb joint pain: description under a tacrolimus-based immunosuppression.

The occurrence of a post-renal transplant syndrome of lower limbs joint pain has been reported extensively over the last decade. Clinical examination of the symptomatic joints is often unremarkable and magnetic resonance imaging reveals abnormalities of the bone marrow suggestive of edema and/or hemorrhage. The main striking features of this syndrome are the spontaneous resolution of the symptoms within a few weeks as well as of the marrow abnormalities. This syndrome has been attributed to cyclosporine, given in the immunosuppression regimen or to epiphyseal impactions. We here document the occurrence of this syndrome in 5 kidney graft recipients given a tacrolimus-based immunosuppression.