Lutetium-177 Dotatate-Induced Hemolytic Anemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Lutetium-177 (¹⁷⁷Lu) dotatate is a type of peptide receptor radioligand therapy (PRRT) using radiolabeled somatostatin for patients with progressive somatostatin receptor-positive gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. While cases of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) have been described as a consequence of ¹⁷⁷ Lu dotatate, there are no reports of hemolytic anemia associated with therapy. We present a case of a 68-year-old woman with metastatic low-grade neuroendocrine tumor who presented four weeks after the second dose of ¹⁷⁷Lu dotatate with progressive fatigue and dyspnea. Laboratory workup was remarkable for hemolytic anemia. Lutetium-177 dotatate-induced hemolysis was suspected after ruling out other causes. Corticosteroid treatment was initiated with improvement in hemoglobin, and dose-reduced PRRT was planned upon discharge. Six months into the treatment course of ¹⁷⁷Lu dotatate, macrocytic anemia was noticed on routine follow-up with normal vitamin B12 and folic acid levels. A bone marrow biopsy was done, revealing myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) features. Given the temporal relationship between drug introduction and the objective findings, early-onset ¹⁷⁷Lu dotatate-induced MDS was diagnosed with a plan for close hematologic follow-up. Myelodysplastic syndrome should be suspected when megaloblastic anemia develops in patients with previous ¹⁷⁷Lu dotatate therapy. The latency period between initial treatment and MDS diagnosis reported in the literature ranges between 15 months to seven years. Apart from the unusually early onset of MDS, what is unique about our case is the development of hemolytic anemia after administration of PRRT. The clinical course and the brisk response to steroid therapy, suggest other mechanisms of PRRT toxicity besides DNA breaks, genetic mutations, and myelosuppression by an immune-mediated component that likely plays a role in ¹⁷⁷Lu dotatate toxicity. Further investigation and monitoring are needed to identify the frequency of such adverse events and the pathophysiology of their occurrence.