Successful Liver Transplantation for Transient Abnormal Myelopoiesis-Associated Liver Failure

Neonatology. 2017;112(2):159-162. doi: 10.1159/000474930. Epub 2017 May 31.

Abstract

Infants with Down syndrome (DS) are at risk of developing a transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM). TAM occasionally involves liver fibrosis, which can be fatal. The management of liver disease in TAM has not yet been established and is mainly supportive. We report an infant with DS and TAM who developed end-stage liver failure. Liver dysfunction progressed even after blast cells disappeared from the circulation. He underwent a living-donor liver transplantation at 56 days of life without surgical complications. The explanted liver showed atrophy and severe fibrosis without leukemic cell infiltration. The posttransplant course was favorable with no hematological abnormality. He is doing well 8 months after transplantation. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first showing that liver transplantation might be a treatment option for TAM-related liver failure.

Keywords: Down syndrome; Liver fibrosis; Organ transplantation; Transient leukemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Down Syndrome / complications*
  • Down Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Down Syndrome / etiology
  • End Stage Liver Disease / diagnosis
  • End Stage Liver Disease / etiology
  • End Stage Liver Disease / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Leukemoid Reaction / diagnosis
  • Leukemoid Reaction / etiology*
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Liver Transplantation* / methods
  • Living Donors
  • Male
  • Treatment Outcome

Supplementary concepts

  • Myeloproliferative Syndrome, Transient