Malakoplakia is a rare inflammatory condition seen in transplant patients. There are two previously reported cases of
malakoplakia involving the gastrointestinal tract in
liver transplant patients. The present paper reports a case of colonic
malakoplakia in a 58-year-old woman, a
liver transplant recipient who was receiving immunosuppressive drugs. She presented with chronic
diarrhea while on
tacrolimus. There was no history of antecedent
infection. Colonoscopy showed patchy mucosal
edema, but no discrete yellow plaques or nodules. The diagnosis was made by colon biopsies, which showed chronic
inflammation with many histiocytes containing Michaelis-Gutmann bodies. Although rare,
malakoplakia is one of many potential causes of
diarrhea in a transplant patient. The present case indicates that
malakoplakia may be associated with chronic
diarrhea, even if there are no macroscopic lesions seen during colonoscopy.