title: Mycophenolate mofetil-induced agranulocytosis in a renal transplant recipient.
abstract: A 27-year-old woman underwent living kidney transplantation from her mother. She received basiliximab, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and a corticosteroid. Before transplantation, her complete blood count and white cell differential were normal. On about the 70th postoperative day (POD 70), her white blood cell (WBC) count began to decrease. On POD 113, her WBC count was 2800/μL. There was no evidence of viral infection, other systemic infection or malignancy. Drug-induced neutropenia, especially MMF-induced neutropenia, was suspected, and the dosage of MMF was reduced. However, the neutrophil count fell to 0/μL within 2 weeks. We further reduced the dosage of MMF and administered granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), which only temporarily increased the neutrophil count. Then, MMF was discontinued and switched to azathioprine, resulting in recovery of neutrophil count without subsequent rejection. MMF-induced neutropenia frequently occurs and should be monitored not only by WBC count but also by white cell differential count, since early discontinuation is the key to successful resolution of neutropenia. Switching from MMF to azathioprine or administration of G-CSF with or without MMF discontinuation might be options for treatment to avoid subsequent rejection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1 Sugao, Miyamae-Ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan. m.katsuomi@marianna-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Katsuomi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Yugo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shibagaki
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chikaraishi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Kenjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D001379:Azathioprine