Late Recurrence of Scleroderma Renal Crisis in a Renal Transplant Recipient Despite Angiotensin II Blockade

Scleroderma renal crisis is the most severe renal manifestation of scleroderma and has been reported to recur rarely early after renal transplantation. Angiotensin II blockade is critical in preventing and treating scleroderma renal crisis, but some concern exists as to whether angiotensin II receptor blockers are clinically equivalent to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The current case indicates that late recurrences of scleroderma renal crisis are possible in renal transplant recipients and that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, rather than angiotensin II receptor blockers, may be the superior drugs for such patients.