A Probable Case of Mirogabalin-Induced Neutropenia

Saeko Takahashi1, Akihiko Ogata1, Morio Nakamura1

  • 1Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Tokyo Saiseikai Central Hospital, Tokyo, JPN.

Cureus
|October 8, 2020
PubMed

Insights

This is the first reported case of neutropenia (low white blood cell count) caused by mirogabalin, a drug for neuropathic pain. The patient

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Hematology
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Mirogabalin is a novel alpha-2-delta (α2δ) subunit ligand for voltage-gated calcium channels, utilized for neuropathic pain management.
  • Pregabalin, a similar medication, has a known incidence of neutropenia (0.3%-1%).
  • Mirogabalin-induced neutropenia has not been previously documented in medical literature.

Observation:

  • A 77-year-old female patient with lung cancer developed neutropenia during mirogabalin treatment.
  • The patient had a history of chemotherapy (carboplatin, nab-paclitaxel) and immunotherapy (nivolumab).
  • Neutropenia was identified during rehabilitation, coinciding with mirogabalin use.

Findings:

  • Mirogabalin was discontinued, leading to a significant drop in neutrophil count.
  • Subsequent recovery of neutrophil levels was observed after mirogabalin cessation.
  • Resumption of other medications (acetaminophen, mexiletine) did not trigger recurrent neutropenia.

Implications:

  • This case highlights a potential adverse effect of mirogabalin, necessitating careful monitoring for neutropenia.
  • Clinicians should consider mirogabalin as a potential cause of neutropenia in patients presenting with low neutrophil counts.
  • Further research is warranted to establish the incidence and mechanism of mirogabalin-induced neutropenia.