Successful fludarabine‐based hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a pediatric patient with idiopathic CD4+ lymphocytopenia

Idiopathic CD4+ lymphocytopenia (ICL) is a rare immunodeficiency disease with severe CD4 T‐cell depletion, leading to serious opportunistic infections. The optimal treatment of ICL has not been determined, especially in severe form of the disease. Here, we report an eight‐yr‐old girl with ICL who was successfully treated with fludarabine‐based conditioning HSCT. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first pediatric ICL case that was treated by HSCT. Allogeneic HSCT with a reduced intensity condition (RIC) regimen may be a feasible and curative treatment option in ICL patients with recurrent life‐threatening complications.     

Successful HLA-identical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a patient with purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency

PNP deficiency is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder characterized by severe combined immunodeficiency, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and by a complex of neurologic manifestations including ataxia, developmental delay, and spasticity. PNP protein catalyzes the phosphorolysis of deoxyinosine and deoxyguanosine. It is found in most tissues of the body but is expressed at the highest levels in lymphoid tissues. This tissue distribution explains why the lymphoid system is predominantly affected in PNP deficiency. We describe a five-yr-old boy with muscular hypertonia, impaired growth, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and neutropenia who underwent HSCT from his HLA-identical sister. One yr post-HSCT, the boy developed normal immunological functions, and his neurological status improved.     

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造血干细胞移植是目前治疗儿童白血病的重要手段之一。造血干细胞移植的适应证因白血病类型和供者种类不同而有所不同;供者以往以同胞供者为主,目前无关供者移植的生存率已接近同胞供者,半相合移植治疗白血病也越来越被临床所接受;各种细胞辅助治疗逐渐突显优势。造血干细胞移植治疗白血病进展迅速,临床应有所了解。     

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??Abstract??Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation ??HSCT?? is the only curative therapy for severe beta-thalassemia major. Patients with an available human leukocyte antigen ??HLA?? identical sibling donor should be offered HSCT as soon as possible before development of iron overload and transfusion associated complications?? and the cure rate was up to 80%??90%. High-resolution HLA typing matched unrelated donor transplants also achieved good results. HSCT from HLA-mismatched relatives or HLA-phenotypically-identical donor is an option to be performed in expert centers. Optimization of conditioning regimen and techniques to control transplant-related complications will further improve outcomes.     

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for children with thalassemia major in China

Thalassemia is the most common single-gene disorder worldwide that is considered a major public health issue. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment for thalassemia major, the form of the disease reflecting homozygosity for a mutant allele. In China, many patients with thalassemia major cannot financially afford life-long regular supportive care with blood transfusions and iron chelation. Although HSCT is expensive, it is a one-time treatment that is possible in some patients. Disease-free survival rates have been 52-82% after HSCT in China. Graft rejection is the main cause of failure following HSCT. Humoral immune activity may play an important role in engraftment of donor cells. This article reviews the current status of HSCT for children with thalassemia major in China.     

Taste dysfunction in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Clinical evaluation in children

The aim of this study was to determine the variability of TD in children undergoing HSCT. Cases were identified as consecutively enrolled children in the period January 2011–January 2013 among patients attending the Paediatric Department of Spedali Civili of Brescia and all candidates to HSCT. The TST was conducted in two phases: identification of threshold values and identification of perceived stimulus intensity. Sixteen sapid solutions with four flavors (sucrose, sodium chloride, citric acid, and quinine hydrochloride) at four different concentrations were administered in a random sequence. The same protocol was administered at different time intervals: before starting the conditioning therapy (T0), during the conditioning therapy (T1) (two times), and every three months (two times) after engraftment post‐HSCT (T2). A p‐value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Fifty‐one children (29 female and 22 male, mean age 5.2 ± 0.7 yr) were enrolled. Threshold value means for the four flavors increased during HSCT conditioning therapy (T1) (p < 0.01); intensity of perceived stimulus decreased during HSCT conditioning therapy (p < 0.01). At six months after engraftment (T2), both parameters had returned to starting values (T0). Changes in taste perception in children undergoing HSCT seem to occur especially during the conditioning therapy and resolve in about six months after engraftment post‐HSCT.     

伴有染色体1p36缺失的高危神经母细胞瘤自体造血干细胞移植巩固治疗的近期疗效分析

目的总结和分析伴有染色体1p36缺失的高危神经母细胞瘤(HR-NB)的临床特征,分析这些患儿经过自体造血干细胞移植巩固治疗后的近期疗效,为进一步提高HR-NB生存率提供参考依据。方法回顾性分析2014年4月-2016年4月,北京儿童医院血液肿瘤中心收治的HR-NB患儿的临床资料。HR-NB诊断标准、临床分期、治疗方案和疗效标准均根据北京儿童医院HR-NB方案(BCH-HR-NB-2007),入组患儿为同时伴有染色体1 p36缺失,且均经过系统治疗和随访的HR-NB。随访至2016年12月31日。结果入组患儿共11例(男4例,女7例),平均年龄43个月,临床分期均为INSS-Ⅳ。肿瘤原发于后纵隔3例,腹膜后或肾上腺8例。骨髓转移11例,骨骼转移10例,均为多发骨转移,远处淋巴结转移6例,肝脏等内脏转移5例,中枢转移2例。伴有N-myc基因扩增4例。全部患儿术前化疗4~5个疗程,回输干细胞计数为(2.62~10.68)×10~6/kg,中位随访时间14.9(9~32)个月。4例患儿复发或进展,其中1例停维甲酸3个月后骨髓复发,放弃治疗后死亡;另3例分别于干细胞回输后第3、5和6个月,维持治疗中肿瘤进展,2例放弃后死亡,1例仍在治疗中。余7例患儿处于肿瘤稳定状态。结论伴有染色体1 p36缺失的HR-NB患儿,骨髓和骨骼转移率极高,约1/3同时伴有N-myc基因扩增。自体造血干细胞移植巩固治疗后3~6个月内,仍然容易出现肿瘤进展。提示肿瘤恶性程度高,很容易进展或复发,在干细胞移植巩固治疗后维持治疗期间仍需要增加全身治疗的强度。     

Pulmonary dysfunction in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients: non-infectious and long-term complications

Pulmonary complications are among the most frequently encountered sequelae of pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Non-infectious complications are becoming increasingly more common in this unique population. This review addresses the diagnosis and management of non-infectious manifestations of lung disease in pediatric HSCT patients and briefly discusses the long-term pulmonary function of childhood HSCT survivors.     

Bullous pemphigoid after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune skin disorder characterized by subepidermal blisters due to deposit of autoantibody against dermal basement membrane protein. It has been reported that BP can occur after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We describe a patient with BP having autoantibody against BP180 after unrelated‐donor HSCT against T lymphoblastic leukemia. The patient was treated with steroid leading to complete resolution of BP, but T lymphoblastic leukemia progressed rapidly after steroid hormone treatment. Given that immunosuppressant may reduce graft‐versus‐tumor effect, immunomodulatory agents such as nicotinamide and tetracycline, erythromycin, and immunoglobulin may be appropriate as soon as typical blister lesions are seen after HSCT.     

BK virus nephropathy in a pediatric patient after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

We report the case of a seven‐yr‐old Caucasian girl who presented with progressive deterioration of renal function 13 months after HSCT for myelodysplastic syndrome. BK virus nephropathy was suspected and confirmed. After reduction of immunosuppression and treatment with IVIG, leflunomide, ciprofloxacin, and cidofovir, clearance of BK virus from blood was achieved, and further progression or renal failure was prevented. We believe that BK virus nephropathy should be considered in cases of renal function deterioration in all immunocompromised patients.     

异基因造血干细胞移植治疗噬血细胞综合征

噬血细胞综合征又称噬血细胞性淋巴组织细胞增生症,分为原发性和继发性两大类.对于家族性噬血细胞综合征(familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis,FHL)和难治性EB病毒相关噬血细胞综合征(EBV-HLH),异基因造血干细胞移植是目前唯一有效的治疗手段,但其鉴别诊断尤为困难,移植后多种并发症以及高病死率也受到越来越多人的关注.该文总结了近年来异基因造血干细胞移植治疗FHL和难治性EBV-HLH在诊断、预处理方案、移植后并发症、死亡原因分析及预后等方面的研究进展.     

造血干细胞移植治疗儿童白血病若干问题

该文涉及各类儿童造血干细胞移植(HSCT),如骨髓移植(BMT)、外周血造血干细胞移植(PBSCT)和脐血移植(UCBT)治疗白血病的优缺点及HSCT在儿童白血病治疗中的地位。绝大多数儿童白血病可通过正规联合化疗根治,仅少数(约20%)高危、难治及复发的白血病是异基因HSCT的适应证,无适合的同胞供体时,可选择HLA全相合非血缘相关BMT或PBSCT,UD-UCBT更适合于儿童患者。     

Platelet transfusion refractoriness in highly immunized beta thalassemia children undergoing stem cell transplantation

Marktel S, Napolitano S, Zino E, Cappelli B, Chiesa R, Poli F, Crocchiolo R, Ronchi P, Rossini S, Ciceri F, Roncarolo MG, Fleischhauer K. Platelet transfusion refractoriness in highly immunized beta thalassemia children undergoing stem cell transplantation.
Pediatr Transplantation 2010: 14:393–401. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Immune‐mediated refractoriness to platelet transfusion is a major problem in patients undergoing HSCT. In a cohort of 50 pediatric patients affected by beta thalassemia coming from Middle East countries, we experienced a high incidence of refractoriness because of anti‐HLA antibodies during post‐HSCT aplasia. In a risk factors analysis, factors predicting a negative transfusion outcome were presence of spleen and the number of anti‐HLA antibodies. We adopted a policy to select platelet donors by avoiding HLA antigens against which the patient had specific antibodies. Transfusion of dedicated units resulted in 26% refractoriness compared to 74% to random units (p < 0.0001). When dedicated transfusions were used, the presence of spleen did not influence transfusion outcome. Analyzing transfusion outcome depending on the degree of HLA match and ABO compatibility, 76% successful transfusions were obtained with HLA‐matched‐ ABO compatible followed by 67% in HLA‐1mismatch‐ ABO compatible or HLA‐matched‐ ABO incompatible and by 46% in HLA‐1mismatch‐ ABO incompatible. In conclusion, we provide evidence that the selection of platelet donors according to patient characteristics, anti‐HLA antibodies and ABO matching, is successful in reducing platelet refractoriness in heavily alloimmunized thalassemia patients undergoing transplantation.     

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a CD3 gamma-deficient infant with inflammatory bowel disease

Partial or total CD3 chain expression defects including CD3 gamma, epsilon, delta, and zeta chain are among the autosomally inherited SCID presenting with T-B+NK+ phenotype with lymphopenia. The clinical findings are generally severe in all except for CD3 gamma deficiency. Here we present a 10-month-old CD3 gamma deficient boy with IBD. The patient had suffered from intractable diarrhea, recurrent pulmonary infections and oral moniliasis since two months of age. Following the first allogeneic HSCT from his HLA-identical (6/6) sister after a reduced intensity regimen, a second transplantation was performed five months later. On day +19 after second transplantation, the CD3 TCR alpha/beta chain expression increased to 66% with development of full donor chimerism (98.6%). A significant improvement in diarrhea, perianal lesions, and rectal fistula was observed suggesting an improvement in inflammatory bowel disease. The patient died at home on day +50 with a sudden respiratory failure secondary to an undetermined infection. The case was interesting being the first reported case with SCID and inflammatory bowel disease who responded very well to HSCT by full recovery of intractable diarrhea, failure to thrive, laboratory findings, and improvement of fistula formation.     

Surveillance cultures in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The value of surveillance cultures in predicting systemic infections and in guiding antimicrobial treatment is controversial. We investigated 57 pediatric allo‐SCTs between 2007 and 2009. ALL (34), AML (5), and severe aplastic anemia (4) were the largest patient groups. Conditioning was TBI‐based in 87% and 54% developed GVHD (21% grade III‐IV). Of the 2594 weekly colonization samples, 24% were positive (fecal bacteria 86%, fecal fungi 16%, Clostridium difficile 16%; throat bacteria 17% and throat fungi 4%). Enterobacteria and enterococci were the most common fecal findings, staphylococci and streptococci in the throat. Of the bacterial stool samples pretransplant, 74% (mostly enterococci) were resistant to our first‐line antibiotics (ceftazidime and cloxacillin). Candida species accounted for the majority of the fungal findings: 62% of the fecal and 78% in the throat. A total of 170 clinical infection episodes were recorded, and in 12 of these, the bacterial blood culture was positive. In 4/12 cases, the pathogen was detected in surveillance culture previously, leading to sensitivity and specificity of 33.3 and 47.4%, respectively. Positive predictive value of bacterial surveillance cultures was 0.9%. The antimicrobial treatment was changed in only five cases based on the surveillance culture results. Weekly surveillance cultures seldom provided clinical benefit and were not cost‐effective.     

Reduced-intensity conditioning for alternative donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with dyskeratosis congenita

DC is an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome mainly characterized by nail dystrophy, abnormal skin pigmentation, and oral leukoplakia. Bone marrow failure is the most common cause of death in patients with DC. Because previous results of HSCT with a myeloablative regimen were disappointing, we used a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen for two patients with classic DC, and one patient with cryptic DC who harbored the TERT mutation. Graft sources included two mismatched-related bone marrow (BM) donors and one unrelated BM donor. Successful engraftment was achieved with few regimen-related toxicities in all patients. They were alive 10, 66, and 72 months after transplantation, respectively. Long-term follow-up is crucial to determine the late effects of our conditioning regimen.     

Two SCID cases with Cernunnos-XLF deficiency successfully treated by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

SCID affects T and B cell differentiation and functions, presenting with severe opportunistic infections in the early postnatal period. It is fatal unless stem cell transplantation is performed. RS SCID forms are caused by defects in the NHEJ pathway, the enzymatic process required for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Cernunnos-XLF defect is one of the defects in this pathway. Here, we present two patients with Cernunnos-XLF defect, both having microcephaly, prominent growth retardation, and T-B-NK+SCID, one of whom had AHA. These patients received hematopoietic stem cells from HLA identical related donor without conditioning regimen and recovered without any complication. Now, both of the patients are well and alive seven and one yr after transplantation, respectively. A remarkable observation was the severe diarrhea that occurred in both patients soon after transplantation.