Acquired Pelger-Huët anomaly in association with concomitant tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil in a liver transplant patient: a case report and review of the literature

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2006 Jan;130(1):93-6. doi: 10.5858/2006-130-93-APAIAW.

Abstract

Pelger-Huët anomaly is a congenital or acquired abnormality of neutrophil nuclear segmentation. The acquired form may be a result of a clonal myeloid malignancy, such as myelodysplastic syndrome, or may be a secondary nonclonal change related to a variety of underlying causes, including infections and medications. We report a case of a 56-year-old man who developed acquired Pelger-Huët anomaly following liver transplantation while on the immunosuppressive agents tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil. These medications have been reported in association with this abnormality, but usually as a single agent or in combination with other drugs. In our case, the Pelger-Huët anomaly may be the result of the combination of these 2 drugs or mycophenolate alone with subsequent desensitization because resolution of the abnormality occurred after a reduction in mycophenolate mofetil dose, and the abnormality did not recur when mycophenolate mofetil was increased to a dose previously associated with Pelger-Huët anomaly during the time that tacrolimus was discontinued.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Desensitization, Immunologic
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / immunology
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycophenolic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Mycophenolic Acid / immunology
  • Mycophenolic Acid / therapeutic use
  • Neutrophils / drug effects
  • Neutrophils / pathology
  • Pelger-Huet Anomaly / etiology*
  • Pelger-Huet Anomaly / pathology
  • Postoperative Complications*
  • Recovery of Function
  • Tacrolimus / immunology
  • Tacrolimus / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Mycophenolic Acid
  • Tacrolimus