ASSOCIATION OF ACQUIRED PELGER-HUET ANOMALY WITH TAXOID THERAPY

We describe the occurrence of acquired Pelger-Huet anomaly (APHA) in 2 3 patients treated with paclitaxel (13) or docetaxel (10). A consisten t peak of Pelger-Huet cells (PHC) within a range of 3-9 d after treatm ent with taxoids was noted. The APHA generally disappeared by day 21 a fter treatment. Peak PHC values for the first course were significantl y different in paclitaxel versus docetaxel versus control groups (P < 0 . 0001) with the maximum PHC counts being significantly higher for d ocetaxel compared with paclitaxel (P < 0 . 001) and for paclitaxel com pared with controls (P = 0 . 007). We conclude that taxoid therapy pro duces transient APHA which peaks between days 3 and 9 and is more pron ounced with docetaxel than with paclitaxel.