Interleukin-1 Inhibitors for Management of Recurrent Pericarditis After Thoracic Organ Transplantation

There is a growing body of evidence supporting the safety and utility of interleukin-1 inhibitors for treatment of recurrent pericarditis. This therapy has not been investigated specifically as related to postpericardiotomy syndrome or after thoracic organ transplantation. We report on rilonacept use for treatment of recurrent pericarditis in 4 patients after lung or heart transplantation, describing the clinical presentation, infectious complications, and outcomes of these cases. Our single-center experience of this highly comorbid patient population highlights the major considerations of interleukin-1 inhibitor use within these patients, particularly as related to infectious complications and immunosuppression management.