Allogeneic BMT was performed in a 33-year-old man because of CML. Donor was his HLA-identical brother. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of short-term MTX and i.v. CsA. On day 17 cutaneous GVHD grade-III developed and high-dose methyl-prednisone was added. Initial daily dose of CsA was 4 mg/kg i.v. CsA dosage was adapted to maintain blood trough levels between 200 and 350 ng/ml. On day 27 the patient developed severe musculoskeletal pain of knees, legs, feet, hands, shoulders and ellbows. Only high-dose opioids and dextropropoxyphen were effective for analgesia. Additional medication besides CsA consisted of parenteral nutrition, steroids and antibiotics for total intestinal decontamination. Clinical and radiological examinantion revealed no causes for musculoskeletal pain. Serum levels for lactate-dehydrogenase, aldolase, alkaline-phosphatase, creatinphosphokinase with isoenzymes, electrolytes including magnesium were within normal ranges. Pain decreased within 4 days after switching, from intravenous to oral application. This case indicates that CsA in high dosage given intravenously combined with steroids can cause severe musculoskeletal pain as side effect in allogeneic BMT.

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