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Case Reports
. 2023 Sep 5;17(1):398.
doi: 10.1186/s13256-023-04126-2.

Early occurrence of acute myelomonocytic leukemia (M4/M5) after liver transplantation: a case report

Farhad Zamani  1 , Hanie Karimi  2 , Mohsenreza Mansoorian  3 , Ali Basi  4 , S Ahmad Hosseini  5 , Zahra Zahed  6 , Nasim Seyedghasemipour  7 , Roghayeh Sahraie  8
Affiliations
Case Reports

Early occurrence of acute myelomonocytic leukemia (M4/M5) after liver transplantation: a case report

Farhad Zamani et al. J Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Introduction: Acute myeloid leukemia is a rare event in post-liver-transplantation recipients. In the present report, we described a case of extramedullary acute myeloid leukemia, M4/M5 subtype, following orthotopic liver transplant.

Case presentation: The patient was a 50-year-old Iranian woman who underwent orthotopic liver transplant due to hepatitis B-related cirrhosis (Child C, MELD (model for end-stage liver disease score) = 22). Orthotopic liver transplant was performed using the piggy back technique in January 2022. Induction immunosuppressive therapy was 1 gm methylprednisolone for 3 days followed by a triple maintenance immunosuppressive regimen including mycophenolate mofetil, prednisolone, and tacrolimus. About 5 months after orthotopic liver transplant in June 2022, the patient presented with leukocytosis, with white blood cell count of 99.4 × 103/µl, and physical examination revealed only cervical lymphadenopathy. Biopsy of cervical lymph nodes showed a myeloid tumor. She was immediately hospitalized. Eight hours after hospitalization, the patient gradually developed lethargy and decreased O2 saturation to approximately 89%. Flow cytometry demonstrated the markers of a myelomonocytic acute myeloid leukemia (M4/M5). Cytoreduction was immediately started by intensive leukopheresis followed by induction therapy. Because of a septic complication during the induction therapy, further chemotherapy was discontinued and broad-spectrum antibiotics and antifungal treatments started. Unfortunately, our patient died of severe septic shock 42 days after hospitalization.

Conclusion: Acute myeloid leukemia is a rare phenomenon after liver transplantation, and it can follow a rapidly fatal clinical course.

Keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia; Acute myelomonocytic leukemia; Liver transplantation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors declare no competing interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Lymph node histology
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The peripheral blood smear showed many myeloid and monocytic cells, including monoblasts and promonocytes
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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