Reversible cardiomyopathy due to secondary hemochromatosis with multitransfusions for severe aplastic anemia after successful non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation

A 30-year-old Japanese woman with acquired severe aplastic anemia (SAA), diagnosed 20 years ago, was referred to our institution for allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). As an unusual case of long-standing SAA, the patient was complicated with moderate heart failure due to secondary hemochromatosis. After successful SCT using a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen, she needed no transfusion. Five years after SCT, echocardiography showed a dramatic improvement of her cardiac function. This case indicates that the cardiac function in secondary hemochromatosis could be reversed once iron overload from multitransfusions is stopped.     

Successful non-T-cell-depleted nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (NST) from an HLA-haploidentical 2-loci-mismatched sibling in a heavily transfused patient with severe aplastic anemia based on the fetomaternal microchimerism

A 37-year-old Japanese man with systemic hemochromatosis due to multiple transfusions was referred to us for the treatment of severe aplastic anemia (SAA), from which he had been suffering for 24 years. The patient had diabetes arising from the hemochromatosis, chronic anal fissures, and a kidney abscess due to neutropenia. He was treated with a nonmyeloablative preconditioning regimen followed by non-T-cell-depleted (non-TCD) allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) from his human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-haploidentical 2-loci-mismatched sibling. Prompt engraftment of granulocytes and platelets was observed, and graft-versus-host disease was easy to control. Noninherited maternal antigens in the donor were confirmed prior to PBSCT, and they were also detected in small quantities in the recipient. This report describes the first successful nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplant in a heavily transfused SAA patient from an HLA-haploidentical 2-loci-mismatched sibling donor. The result suggests that a long-term fetomaternal microchimerism-positive sibling can be a second-line donor if an alternative HLA-identical donor is not available.     

Successful hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for aplastic anemia following living-related liver transplantation

A 1-year-old boy received a living-related liver transplantation (LRLT) from his HLA-haploidentical father to treat acute liver failure following non-A, non-B, non-C hepatitis. He subsequently developed pancytopenia and was diagnosed with aplastic anemia (AA). He was platelet transfusion dependent and developed two episodes of life-threatening intracranial hemorrhage despite immuno-suppressive therapy consisting of cyclosporin A, antithymocyte globulin, and anabolic steroids. He received combined hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (hSCT) with cord blood and bone marrow from an HLA-matched sibling. Conditioning consisted of cyclophosphamide (CY) 200 mg/kg and 7 Gy total lymphoid irradiation (TLI). Marrow engraftment was prompt and there was no significant graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).     

Successful treatment with allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation and granulocyte transfusion for severe aplastic anemia with sinusitis

A 43-year-old woman with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) received anti-thymocyte globulin and cyclosporin A (CyA) and achieved hematological remission. Although she had maintained hematological remission, the disease relapsed 10 months after arbitrary discontinuance of maintenance therapy with CyA. Resumption of CyA therapy was not effective, and her condition became complicated with progressive sinusitis with bone destruction, which was refractory to antibiotics, antifungal agents, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and surgical drainage. Because of the necessity for early neutrophil recovery (to resolve the infection), we proceeded with a combination therapy using allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) promptly followed by granulocyte transfusion (GTX) from the same human leukocyte antigen-identical donor rather than carrying out a second immunosuppressive therapy. The patient showed temporal resolution of infection on the second day after a single GTX. Although the patient had pneumonia on day 11, it was resolved promptly after engraftment on day 16. This report suggests the clinical utility of a salvage therapy with allogeneic PBSCT followed by GTX in a particular case of recurrent SAA with refractory infections.     

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for high-risk adult patients with severe aplastic anemia; reduction of graft failure by enhancing stem cell dose

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The main causes of failure after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) are graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), infection and graft failure, often exacerbated by large numbers of transfusions and prolonged disease duration before transplant. This study retrospectively analyzes the outcome and factors related to survival or graft failure in high-risk patients with SAA receiving HSCT in our institution. DESIGN AND METHODS: Between January 1995 and December 1999, 40 consecutive adult patients who were multi-transfused (more than 40 units of red blood cells +/- platelets) and/or had a 3 years or longer period prior to transplant were enrolled. Their median age was 27.5 years (range, 16 to 43) and 21 (52.5%) were women. All donors were human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched siblings. Before transplant, 29 patients (72.5%) received a course of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporin A (CsA). The median interval from diagnosis to transplant was 59 months (range, 2 to 216). The median number of transfusions was 115 units (range, 10 to 480). All patients received a conditioning regimen of cyclophosphamide, ATG, and procarbazine. Our patients received either bone marrow (BM) alone (n=20) or BM+peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) (n=20) as a stem cell source. T-cells of PBSC were depleted using the CD34 enrichment method. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of CsA and short-term methotrexate. RESULTS: In the BM+PBSC group, neutrophil recovery to 0.5 x 10(9)/L and platelet recovery to 20 x 10(9)/L were achieved more rapidly than in the BM group (p=0.005 and 0.039, respectively). The incidences of graft failure, grade II to IV acute GVHD, and chronic GVHD were 22.5%, 12.8% and 23.1%, respectively. Graft failure occurred in 2 of 20 patients (10%) receiving BM+PBSC and in 7 of 20 (35%) receiving BM alone (p=0.069). Seven of 9 patients who had graft failure received a booster treatment and recovered normal marrow function. GVHD incidence was comparable between the BM+PBSC and BM groups. Six patients (15%) died from graft failure (n=2), interstitial pneumonia (n=2), cyclophosphamide-induced heart failure (n=1), and chronic GVHD followed by pneumonia (n=1). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of survival was 83.7% with a median follow-up duration of 40.5 months (range 8-67). In multivariate analysis only chronic GVHD adversely influenced survival (p=0.042). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that HSCT is an effective treatment for multi-transfused SAA patients with prolonged disease duration. It is highly possible that the infusion of a large number of stem cells leads to a reduction of graft failure and a faster speed of engraftment. Booster treatment is successful in achieving engraftment in patients with graft failure.     

Successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using triple agent immunosuppression in severe aplastic anemia patients

Graft rejection in patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is strongly associated with a large number of prior transfusions and with prolonged disease duration before transplant. We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes and the factor affecting these multitransfused SAA patients, who had received triple agent immunosuppression and high doses of stem cells to overcome rejection. In total, 113 patients with SAA who had a median 16 months (range 1-216) of disease duration were transplanted using HLA-matched sibling donors after conditioning with cyclophosphamide (CY), procarbazine (PCB), and ATG. Graft failure occurred in 16 of the eligible 113 patients, and with a median follow-up of 30 months (range, 1-80), probability of overall rejection was 15%. Specifically, the multitransfused patients who received high doses of stem cells with T-cell depletion showed the lowest rejection rate, 5.6%, compared with 30.3% in multitransfused patients with bone marrow stem cells alone (P=0.0310). Disease duration (P=0.0338) and the number of infused CD34+cells (P=0.0101) were associated with a high risk of graft rejection on multivariate analysis. ABO mismatch and the number of CD34+ cells were significant factors in the incidence of acute graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). The incidence of chronic GVHD among patients with sustained engraftment was 13/109 (11.9%). With the same follow-up period, probability of disease-free survival for the entire group of patients at 6 years was 89% and the only factor associated with long-term survival was rejection (P=0.0241). These results suggest that allogeneic HSCT conditioned with triple agent immunosuppression, and specifically with high-dose stem cell return is probably an effective treatment for successful engraftment in SAA patients with a high risk of rejection.     

Outcome of unrelated donor stem cell transplantation for children with severe aplastic anemia

For children with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) who fail immunosuppressive therapy and lack a human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling donor, unrelated donors provide a source of hematopoietic stem cells. Data from 195 children with acquired SAA who underwent unrelated donor transplantation between 1989 and 2003 were analyzed. Neutrophil recovery (86% at day-28) was higher with total body irradiation-containing conditioning regimen and in younger recipients (aged ≤16 years) receiving grafts from older donors (aged >40 years). Recovery was lower after mismatched transplants and transplantations prior to 1997. Mortality rates were higher after mismatched transplants, in recipients with a poor performance score, and when the interval between diagnosis and transplantation was longer than 4 years. When restricted to donor-recipient pairs with allele-level HLA typing (8-loci; n  = 118), mortality rates were also higher after mismatched transplants and older recipients receiving grafts from older donors; 5-year probabilities of overall survival after HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 matched and mismatched transplants adjusted for donor and recipient age were 57% and 39%, respectively ( P  = 0·008). The data suggest that unrelated donor transplantation is an acceptable alternative for children; early referral for transplantation and identification of an HLA-matched (allele-level) donor offers the best outcome.     

Syngeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation with brief immunosuppression for severe aplastic anemia

We report the cases of two severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients who were successfully treated with syngeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) using immunosuppression without high-dose chemotherapy or irradiation for conditioning. A 21-year-old woman with SAA of 6 years duration had been transfused heavily before transplantation and had developed refractory thrombocytopenia, chronic hepatitis and secondary hematochromatosis. Syngeneic PBSCT with immunosuppression using ATG, methylprednisolone, and cyclosporin-A was eventually performed without high-dose chemotherapy in September 1997. The second syngeneic PBSCT with the same immunosuppression was successfully performed in a 35-year-old male patient who had had SAA for 3 months in November 1998. Haemopoietic engraftment was rapid and sustained. There was no infection or mucositis during the syngeneic PBSCT. The patients are currently 9 to 22 months post-PBSCT without rejection. Our experience suggests that syngeneic PBSCT with brief immunosuppression is an effective alternative to pretransplant high-dose chemotherapy conditioning for SAA patients having syngeneic transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 337-339.     

重型再生障碍性贫血NSCT移植前后T细胞亚群与造血负调控因子的研究

目的检测行非清髓性造血干细胞移植（NSCT）前后重型再生障碍性贫血（SAA）患者的T细胞亚群和造血负调控因子水平,分析二者异常与疗效的相关性,评价NSCT在重型SAA发病机制中的作用及意义。方法用流式细胞术检测30例重型SAA患者（SAA组）及16例正常者（对照组）的外周血T细胞亚群、IFN-γ及IL-2。结果SAA组76．6％T细胞亚群异常,IFN-γIL-2较对照组明显升高（P〈0．01）;治疗后,T细胞亚群异常及IL-2、IFN-γ升高者比无T细胞亚群异常及IL-2、IFN-γ正常或低下者的临床有效率高;部分患者治疗1a后T细胞亚群及血浆细胞因子恢复正常。结论异常升高及活化的免疫效应细胞对骨髓造血细胞直接或间接损伤,可能是导致SAA的重要机制;NSCT能影响SAA患者T细胞亚群及血浆细胞因子水平。     

Primary transplantation of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell for severe aplastic anemia

 Primary allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-PBSCT) has not been previously described in the treatment of severe aplastic anemia (SAA). We report a patient with SAA who underwent primary allo-PBSCT with cells from her HLA-identical sibling and achieved rapid bone marrow reconstitution. The patient has been in complete remission with normal blood counts for 9 months following allo-PBSCT. This suggests that primary allo-PBSCT is a safe and effective alternative in the treatment of SAA. Received: 13 November 1996 / Accepted: 29 January 1997     

Successful allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation for aplastic anemia in a patient with renal insufficiency requiring dialysis

A 27-year-old man with aplastic anemia and renal insufficiency requiring dialysis underwent allogeneic PBSCT. The preparative regimen consisted of melphalan, ATG and TLI. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine and prednisolone. He was dialyzed prior to administration of melphalan and at 24 and 72 h after it. Otherwise, the dialysis schedule was unchanged, at three times a week. Engraftment was rapid. Regimen-related toxicity was minimal. Pharmacokinetic parameters of melphalan were not significantly altered with its plasma half-life 1.5 h. Patients with renal failure can receive allogeneic HSCT, and a combination of melphalan, ATG and TLI may serve as an alternative to CY and ATG.     

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation using alemtuzumab-containing regimens in severe aplastic anemia

Alemtuzumab, a humanized anti-CD52, IgG1 monoclonal antibody, is used to reduce graft-versus- host disease (GVHD) and aid engraftment after allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Its associated low incidence of GVHD makes it an attractive alternative to anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) in transplant conditioning regimen for severe aplastic anaemia (SAA). We have reviewed the use of alemtuzumab-based conditioning regimen for HSCT in SAA and show that it results in sustained haematological engraftment, a very low incidence of chronic GVHD without an increase in viral infections. Intriguingly, alemtuzumab appears to induce tolerance post-HSCT with the findings of stable mixed T cell chimerism with full donor myeloid chimerism and the absence of chronic GVHD, and which persist on withdrawal of post-graft immunosuppression. Finally, its low toxicity profile may permit future application of HSCT to older patients with SAA who fail to respond to immunosuppressive therapy.     

HLA配型相合的造血干细胞移植治疗重型再生障碍性贫血的临床研究

目的 评价HLA配型相合的异基因造血干细胞移植(allo-HSCT)治疗重型再生障碍性贫血(SAA)的疗效.方法 2000年1月至2008年11月采用allo-HSCT治疗SAA患者20例,其中同胞相合移植17例,非血缘关系移植3例.预处理采用环磷酰胺(Cy)50 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)4 d加抗淋巴细胞免疫球蛋白(ATG)2.5 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)或20 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) d.移植物抗宿主病(GVHD)的预防方案为经典的环孢素A(CsA)联合短程甲氨蝶呤(MTX)及霉酚酸酯(MMF).同胞供者采集经重组人粒细胞集落刺激因子(G-CSF)动员的骨髓及外周血干细胞,非血缘供者单纯采集外周血干细胞.结果 回输单个核细胞中位数为7.89(4.00-14.21)×10~(8)/kg,所有患者均获供者造血重建,粒细胞植活中位时间14(11～20)d;血小板植活中位时间12(8～108)d.但1例患者发生晚期排斥,行另一供者二次移植后植活.21例次移植后共发生6例次急性GVHD(I度3例,Ⅱ度皮肤3例),发生率16%.19例生存期>100 d的患者中有7例发生慢性GVHD,其中4例为局限型,3例为广泛型.截至2009年2月28 日,经过中位18(2.0～106.8)个月的随访,共有17例患者无病生存,总生存率为82.5%.结论 采用Cy+ATG的预处理方案对SAA患者进行HLA配型相合HSCT,植活率高,可以获得良好的疗效.     

非亲缘HLA不相合脐血移植治疗再生障碍性贫血

目的 :观察HLA位点不相合的非亲缘脐血细胞移植治疗重型再生障碍性贫血 (SAA)的疗效。方法 :采用 5～ 6个HLA位点相合的非亲缘脐血移植治疗SAA患者 1例。输入脐血单个核细胞数为 4.72× 10 7/kg。预处理方案为环磷酰胺 (5 0mg/kg·d-1× 4)、抗淋巴细胞球蛋白 (2 0mg/kg·d-1× 4)和全身照射 (3Gy)。用环胞素、骁悉和泼尼松预防移植物抗宿主病 (GVHD)。结果 :移植后白细胞下降至零 ,持续 12d ,中性粒细胞分别于移植后第 2 4天和第 2 6天恢复至 0 .5× 10 9/L和 1.0× 10 9/L ,血小板分别于移植后第 2 8天和第 82天达到 2 0× 10 9/L和 5 0× 10 9/L ,DNA短串重复序列PCR检测证实为持续稳定的供者造血。随访 12个月未发生急慢性GVHD。结论 :非亲缘脐血移植是治疗重型再障的一种有效的方法。     

Outcome analysis of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for 41 patients with severe aplastic anemia

<正>Objective To evaluate the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT)for patients with severe aplastic anemia(SAA).Methods A retrospective study was conducted in 41 SAA patients received allo-HSCT from Oct.2001 to May 2015.There were 27 males and 14 females with median age of 17(2-43)years old.Of them,24 received matched sib-     

Unrelated donor stem cell transplantation in acquired severe aplastic anemia: a systematic review

Acquired severe aplastic anemia is a rare disease characterized by an immune-mediated functional impairment of hematopoietic stem cells. Transplantation of these cells from unrelated donors is a treatment option frequently offered to patients after failed immunosuppressive therapy. The aim was to investigate the outcome of these patients treated with unrelated donor transplants. Systematic literature searches were performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library. All databases were searched from inception to June 2009. Only full-text publications and studies including at least 10 patients were considered. The primary outcome was 5-year overall survival from the day of transplantation and the secondary outcomes were graft failure and graft-versus-host disease. A meta-analysis of survival estimates was conducted and heterogeneity was investigated. A total of 18 studies, one controlled trial and 17 case series were identified. The overall survival at five years and the corresponding confidence interval was stated in 8 studies and ranged from 28% to 94%. A meta-analysis revealed considerable heterogeneity between the studies that could not be explained and was also present in subgroups of the studies. The proportion of acute graft failure was 45% in one study using only umbilical cord blood, and it was reported to be 0–26% in 15 studies using mainly bone marrow as stem cell source after different follow-up periods. Acute GVHD grade II–IV was reported for 8–86% and extensive chronic GVHD for 0–38% of the evaluated patients in 16 studies. Recipient age, human leukocyte antigen match, performance status, year of transplantation, and conditioning with serotherapy were identified as significant factors for improved survival. Unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with acquired severe aplastic anemia after failure to immunosuppressive therapy is a treatment option. A stable physical condition of the patients before receiving the transplant (for example, performance and age) may be associated with a better survival. Detailed HLA-matching facilitated by DNA-based typing, among other factors, may have contributed to recent improvements on survival after unrelated donor HSCT as a second-line treatment.     

非清髓无关供体外周血干细胞移植治疗重型再生障碍性贫血

目的 探讨无关供体造血干细胞移植治疗重型再生障碍性贫血(SAA)的方法 和疗效.方法 对1例SAA的患者进行了无关供体HLA高分辨4/6相合的外周血干细胞移植.采用环磷酰胺(100 mg/kg) 氟达拉宾(150 mg/m2) 抗人淋巴细胞球蛋白(100 mg/kg)的非清髓性预处理后,回输粒细胞集落刺激因子(G-CSF)动员的外周血干细胞,共输注单个核细胞(MNC)6.77×108/kg,CD 34细胞1.95×106/kg.预防移植物抗宿主病(GVHD)采用环胞菌素A(CsA)联合短疗程甲氨蝶呤(MTX)的基础上加用霉酚酸酯(MMF)的方案.结果 患者移植后造血恢复顺利,于移植后第6天WBC植入,第8天PLT植入,第30天行患者骨髓STR-PCR检测显示为完全供者的基因型,第150天血型转变为供者型(O→A).未发生急性GVHD(aGVHD)及慢性GVHD(cGVHD),随访至移植后8个月,造血功能恢复良好,仍在继续随访中.结论 以氟达拉宾、环磷酰胺和抗人淋巴细胞球蛋白组成的非清髓性预处理方案用于无关供体外周血干细胞移植治疗SAA,能够获得稳定的植入,且并发症少,是有效移植方法之一.