Role of donor leukocyte chimerism in establishing the etiology of neutropenia after liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
The quantitation of donor leukocyte chimerism may aid in establishing the etiology of neutropenia after liver transplantation.


METHODS
The incidence and clinical and laboratory characteristics of severe neutropenia were studied in adults who have undergone liver transplantation at our institution over the last 4 years.


RESULTS
Severe neutropenia developed in 5 of 156 patients (3%). The clinical and pathological features were nonspecific. In two patients with a delayed diagnosis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), donor leukocytes comprised > or = 50% of the circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In a third patient, an earlier diagnosis of GVHD was suspected on the basis of a donor leukocyte count of 3-10% in the peripheral blood. In contrast, donor leukocyte chimerism was < or = 0.01% in two patients with probable drug-induced neutropenia


CONCLUSIONS
The determination of donor leukocyte chimerism has an important role in the investigation of neutropenia after liver transplantation, allowing early diagnosis and treatment of GVHD.
Jonsson
J R
JR
Department of Surgery, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Gill
D
D
Hogan
P G
PG
Clouston
A D
AD
Edwards-Smith
C
C
Griffin
A D
AD
Balderson
G A
GA
Lynch
S V
SV
Strong
R W
RW
Powell
E E
EE
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D016853:Muromonab-CD3 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014019:Tissue Donors; D018183:Transplantation Chimera / Q000276:immunology*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016853:Muromonab-CD3; D008775:Methylprednisolone