Excessive vincristine exposure in a child being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with underlying Dubin-Johnson syndrome: a case report.

BACKGROUND

Dubin-Johnson syndrome is a rare benign autosomal recessive condition that causes an isolated increase of conjugated bilirubin in the serum. Impaired biliary excretion is due to mutation in the multiple drug-resistance protein 2 gene (MRP2).

CASE PRESENTATION

We describe the case of a 4-year-old girl being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who had a history of conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia and persistently elevated bilirubin levels on initiation of chemotherapy. During treatment for leukaemia, she was diagnosed with Dubin-Johnson syndrome for the underlying condition. Following administration of vincristine at the recommended dose of 1.5 mg/m, an abnormally high vincristine exposure was observed (AUC > 200 µg/L*h), approximately 3 times higher than previously reported exposures in a comparable clinical setting. Vincristine dose reductions were applied on subsequent cycles of treatment and resulted in markedly reduced drug exposures, within the normal target range.

CONCLUSION

This case provided a rare opportunity to assess the impact of MRP2 mutations associated with Dubin-Johnson syndrome on the pharmacokinetics of vincristine and strongly indicates that a marked dose reduction should be recommended. Clinicians should be made aware of the potential for altered drug disposition for agents such as vincristine in patients with this rare genetic condition.