Rare case of pancrelipase therapy-induced neutropaenia

Abstract

A 61-year-old man was transferred to our facility from an outside hospital due to refractory neutropaenia of unknown aetiology. The patient presented to the referring hospital with a 5-day history of worsening diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Initial lab results at presentation showed severe neutropaenia with an absolute neutrophil count of 0. Investigations included a bone marrow biopsy which showed slightly hypocellular marrow with near absence of granulocytic precursors. A CT without contrast showed evidence of chronic pancreatitis and acute colitis. The patient’s neutropaenia persisted despite granulocyte colony-stimulating factor therapy. The patient was, thus, transferred to our facility for a higher level of care. At our facility, the patient had rapid correction of neutropaenia after discontinuation of pancrelipase therapy. The patient’s abdominal pain and diarrhoea also improved while off pancrelipase. Neutropaenia has completely resolved 6 weeks after discharge without any further therapy.