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 greater than or equal to 50% of the circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In a third patient, an earlier diagnosis of GVBD was suspected on the basis of a donor leukocyte count of 3-10% in the peripheral blood. In contrast, donor leukocyte chimerism was less than or equal to 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.