Infection following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is offered to increasing numbers of patients, with the potential of curing underlying disease. Whilst survival rates have significantly improved over recent years, with survival for some procedures over 90%, infection remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Strategies to improve the outcome of patients who develop infection through the transplant period are being introduced. Minimal intensity conditioning regimens reduce the period of bone marrow aplasia when patients are most at risk of developing life-threatening bacterial or fungal infection. Reduction or omission of serotherapy as part of the conditioning regimen preserves donor lymphocytes and results in more rapid viral clearance. Weekly surveillance for herpes- and adenovirus infection enables pre-emptive treatment before disease develops – new antiviral treatments are currently being trialled. Cellular therapies are more effective at countering viral infection. New methods of graft manipulation remove T lymphocytes more likely to cause GvHD, but retain Natural Killer cells and specific T lymphocyte subsets more likely to exhibit antiviral activity. Immunomodulatory methods of treating graft-versus host disease enable a reduction in conventional immunosuppression, which allows control of viral infection. New methods of generating virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes will facilitate donor banking of such cells to treat patients with third party lymphocyte infusions.     

Iron overload in survivors of childhood leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract:  Iron overload has not been studied extensively and prospectively in pediatric survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT); therefore, we conducted a prospective long-term study of 133 survivors of childhood leukemia to assess the incidence of and risk factors for iron overload and to investigate its association with organ dysfunction. One yr after HSCT, the mean serum ferritin level was 1158 ng/mL (range, 22–3264 ng/mL), with 124 patients (93.2%) having a serum ferritin level that exceeded the upper limit of the normal range (110 ng/mL). Thereafter, the serum ferritin level declined over time. There was a positive correlation between the level of serum ferritin and that of total bilirubin (r   =   0.21, p < 0.001) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (r   =   0.17, p < 0.001). A high concentration of serum ferritin was associated with low cardiac fractional shortening (r   = −0.15, p  =  0.047). In addition, patients with hypothyroidism and GH deficiency had a higher level of serum ferritin than those without (p < 0.02). We conclude that iron overload is common after HSCT and is associated with hepatic, cardiac, and endocrine dysfunction.     

自身造血干细胞移植治疗儿童晚期神经母细胞瘤临床报道

目的 　神经母细胞瘤是儿童常见的恶性肿瘤 ,即使通过化疗、放疗及手术等综合治疗 ,晚期患儿仍生存率极低。为提高治愈率 ,本中心对 1 1例晚期患儿进行了自身造血干细胞移植术。方法 　本组平均年龄 3 8岁 ( 2～ 6岁 ) ,平均体重 1 5 3kg( 1 1 6kg～ 2 0kg)。 2例为原发于胸腔的Ⅲ期患者 ,9例均为原发于腹腔伴有广泛骨髓转移的IV期患儿。虽然大剂量化疗及积极的手术治疗 ,4例患儿移植时原发肿瘤仍未完全清除 ,属带瘤移植。因对其中 2例未缓解患儿进行了两次移植 ,1 1例患儿共进行了 1 3例次移植。 3例次直接采集骨髓 ,另 1 0例次采用外周血造干细胞进行移植。为减少移植后复发 ,4例患儿采集物经CliniMACS进行了CD+3 4细胞分选的净化处理。所有患儿均采用VP1 6 +卡铂 +马法兰的预处理方案。结果　采集骨髓及外周血得到的单个核细胞分别为 ( 5 7± 0 9)× 1 0 8/kg和 ( 5 7± 1 0 )× 1 0 8/kg ,两者之间无显著性差异 (P >0 0 5) ,所有患儿移植后都获造血重建 ,中性粒细胞恢复至 0 5× 1 0 9/L的平均时间为 1 0 5± 5 7天 ,非输血依赖的血小板大于 2 0× 1 0 9/L的时间为 1 6 8±9 4天 ,血小板大于 50× 1 0 9/L的时间为 33 1± 2 0 1天 ,移植过程中平均输注红细胞2 2± 2 0单位 ( 0～ 8单位 )?     

Combined enzyme replacement and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Hurler syndrome

We report the long-term follow-up of successful treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis type I H (MPS IH, Hurler syndrome) with combined enzyme replacement therapy and haematopoietic progenitor stem cell transplant.     

KIR/HLA-I mismatching and risk of relapse in paediatric patients undergoing non-haploidentical allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

In HSCT setting, KIR-driven alloreactivity might be better predicted if the donor KIR genotype is considered in addition to the recipient HLA genotype. The prediction of NK cell alloreactivity relies on the missing ligand in the recipient, a scenario that can be found in HLA-identical and non-identical allotransplants. The aim of this study was to investigate at genetic level the prognostic impact of recipient HLA-I lacking for donor KIR on allotransplanted patients outcome. We analysed donors KIR genotype and HLA genotype of 60 paediatric patients who received related (n=15) or unrelated (n=45) transplantation. When patients were grouped based on the KIR gene type involved in the KIR/HLA-I mismatch, we did not observe any relapse in the group of patients characterized by mismatches involving only inhibitory KIR. On the contrary, all relapses were observed in patients showing at least one activating gene involved in the mismatch (p<0.05). Although the biological mechanism accounting for this putative genetic rule is still to be clarified, we suggest that a careful survey of KIR/HLA-I mismatching should be taken into account in the selection of donor in related and unrelated HSCT.     

The socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances of adult long-term survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in childhood

Socioeconomic factors such as education, employment, financial circumstances, marital status, and psychological well-being were investigated in 51 Swedish adults (age 19-42) surviving for at least five yr following pediatric allogeneic SCT (age at SCT 1-16 yr) using items derived from a Living Condition Survey (ULF). Psychological well-being and cognitive faculties were measured by HAD and SWED-QUAL. Socioeconomic data and marital status were compared with a norm group matched for gender and age, derived from the Swedish national population registry. Most subjects function well and lead normal lives, and they are nevertheless more likely than the norm to encounter problems with establishing themselves on the labor market. The SCT group demonstrated a lower level of employment, and the likelihood of having a disability pension was higher than in the normal population. Younger subjects and women encountered most financial difficulties and a higher risk of poverty. Cognitive difficulties intercorrelated both with inferior financial circumstances and with higher levels of anxiety and depression. These results indicate the importance of recognizing and attempting to tackle the possible cumulative disadvantage of problems that affect the adult following SCT in childhood.     

Early predictors of mortality in children with pulmonary complications after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

PC are a main cause of death following HSCT in children. We aimed to evaluate early predictors of mortality in paediatric recipients with PCs. A retrospective observational study of 35 patients with 49 episodes of PI on chest radiography (of 124 patients) who had undergone HSCT at a tertiary university hospital between January 2011 and December 2012 was performed. During follow‐up (median 26.1 months), 15 episodes led to death (30.6%). An aetiologic diagnosis was made by non‐invasive tests in 24 episodes (49.0%) and by adding bronchoalveolar lavage and/or lung biopsy in 7 episodes with diagnostic yield (77.8%, P = .001). Thus, a specific diagnosis was obtained in 63.3% of the episodes. Aetiology identification and treatment modification after diagnosis did not decrease mortality (P = .057, P = .481). However, the number of organ dysfunctions at the beginning of PI was higher in the mortality group, compared to the survivor group (1.7 ± 1.2 vs 0.32 ± 0.59; P = .001). Hepatic dysfunction (OR, 11.145; 95% CI, 1.23 to 101.29; P = .032) and neutropaenia (OR, 10.558; 95% CI, 1.07 to 104.65; P = .044) were independently associated with risk of mortality. Therefore, hepatic dysfunction and neutropaenia are independent early predictors of mortality in HSCT recipients with PCs.     

The effectiveness of busulfan‐based conditioning regimens for stem cell transplantation against lymphomas in children,adolescents, and young adults in Japan

Conditioning regimens for stem cell transplantation (SCT) involving total body irradiation (TBI) are generally preferred over busulfan (BU)‐based ones for lymphoid malignancies. However, reports of favorable results using BU against lymphomas have recently emerged. This study sought to compare the effectiveness of BU and TBI regimens for SCT against lymphomas. We retrospectively analyzed 893 lymphoma patients who underwent primary SCT in Japan between 1980 and 2015. The median age of all patients was 18 years (range, 0–30 years) with 589 males, 303 females, and 1 patient whose sex was unknown. Overall survival (OS) was not different between those receiving BU and TBI (P = 0.672). OS in patients receiving autologous SCT was significantly better with BU over TBI regimens (P = 0.038), particularly in children (0–15 years) (P = 0.024). Conversely, OS in adolescents and young adults (AYAs; 16–30 years) receiving allogeneic SCT was significantly worse with BU over TBI regimens (P = 0.035). Overall, BU regiments had comparable effectiveness to TBI conditioning regimens, and, although less effective for AYAs with allogeneic SCT, were particularly more effective than TBI regimens for children who received autologous SCT.     

糖耐量减低肥胖儿童胰岛素原和真胰岛素水平测定意义

目的　探讨血清胰岛素原 (PI)及真胰岛素 (TI)测定对肥胖并糖耐量异常患儿的临床意义。方法　选择肥胖并糖耐量减低 (IGT)患儿 2 1例 ,肥胖糖耐量正常 (NGT) 5 2例 ,正常对照组 4 0例。测定各组空腹血清PI、TI、血糖 (G)、胰岛素 (I)和C 肽 (C P) ,并计算PI/I、PI/C P、PI/TI及胰岛素抵抗指数。结果　 1.肥胖并IGT和并NGT两组患儿比较 ,G、PI、C P及胰岛素抵抗指数均明显增加 (P均 <0 .0 1)。 2 .IGT组糖尿病阳性家族史明显高于NGT组 (P =0 .0 2 4 )。结论　高PI、高C P和胰岛素抵抗是肥胖并IGT患儿的突出表现 ,可能是儿童2型糖尿病的预示指标。有糖尿病阳性家族史肥胖儿童更应警惕IGT发生     

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recovers insulin deficiency in type 1 diabetes mellitus associated with IPEX syndrome

Immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, and X‐linked (IPEX) syndrome is an autoimmune disorder caused by the dysfunction of FOXP3, which leads to regulatory T‐(Treg) cell dysfunction and subsequently autoimmunity including type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). Presently, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a potential curative therapy for IPEX syndrome, but not for T1D. Generally, after complete loss of pancreatic β‐cells, HSCT cannot improve the prognosis of T1D. Here, we report the case of a 16‐year‐old adolescent with late‐onset of FOXP3 R347H mutation associated IPEX syndrome with T1D, where insulin dependency was ameliorated following HSCT. This patient with insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus required insulin dosage of 1.28 U/kg/day for 1 month before HSCT. Although the results of glucose homeostasis before HSCT revealed impaired insulin secretion and low ΔC‐peptide immunoreactivity (CPR, 1.0 ng/mL), the patient withdrew insulin infusion and remained euglycemic at 15 months after HSCT, and had normal β‐cell function with improved ΔCPR (3.4 ng/mL) at 20 months after HSCT. The present case suggests that HSCT for T1D‐associated IPEX syndrome improves Treg deficiency and prevents elimination of β‐cells. We speculate that the period from the onset of T1D to HSCT could affect the therapeutic efficacy for T1D with IPEX, and early intervention with HSCT before or immediately after the onset of DM can rescue β‐cells and remit T1D completely. Our study elaborates not only the therapeutic strategy for T1D with IPEX, but also the pathogenic mechanism in general T1D.     

妊娠期合并糖代谢异常对新生儿胰岛素敏感性的影响

目的探讨妊娠期合并糖代谢异常对子代新生儿期胰岛素敏感性的影响。方法选择2009年12月至2010年11月本院产科出生的新生儿,根据母亲妊娠期是否合并糖代谢异常分为糖代谢异常母亲的新生儿和糖代谢正常母亲的新生儿。所有研究对象均进行出生体格测量,并于生后 3 天内测定空腹血糖( FPG) 和空腹血清胰岛素( FINS) ,计算胰岛素敏感指数( ISI) ,采用胰岛素稳态模型( HOMA) 计算胰岛素抵抗指数( IR) ,即 HOMA-IR,其中 FINS、ISI 和 HOMA-IR 值为胰岛素敏感性的评价指标。以性别、胎龄、出生体重为协变量,分别在早产儿和足月儿中进行胰岛素敏感性的协方差分析。结果 89 例早产新生儿和 96 例足月新生儿纳入分析。糖代谢异常母亲新生儿的出生体重、出生身长和重量指数( PI) 与糖代谢正常母亲的新生儿相比,差异无统计学意义( P >0. 05) 。与糖代谢正常母亲的早产儿相比,糖代谢异常母亲的早产儿 FPG 降低、FINS 升高,差异有统计学意义[FPG( mmol/L) : ( 4. 00 ±0. 25) 比( 4. 82 ±0. 18) ,FINS( 经对数 Lg 转换) : ( 0. 69± 0. 06) 比( 0. 54 ± 0. 04) ,P < 0. 05],ISI 值降低、HOMA-IR 值升高,但差异无统计学意义[ISI( 经对数 Ln 转换) : ( -2. 89 ±0. 15) 比( -2. 78 ±0. 11) ,HOMA-IR 值( 经对数 Lg 转换) : ( -0. 10 ±0. 06)比( -0. 15 ±0. 05) ,P >0. 05]; 足月儿中糖代谢异常母亲的新生儿 FPG、FINS 和 HOMA-IR 值低,ISI 值高,但差异均无统计学意义[FPG( mmol / L) : ( 4. 68 ± 0. 23) 比( 5. 17 ± 0. 13) ,FINS( 经对数 Lg转换) : ( 0. 56 ±0. 06) 比( 0. 61 ±0. 03) ,HOMA-IR 值( 经对数 Lg 转换) : ( -0. 14 ±0. 06) 比( -0. 03± 0. 03) ,ISI( 经对数 Ln 转换) : ( - 2. 79 ± 0. 14) 比( - 3. 04 ± 0. 08) ,P > 0. 05]。结论母亲妊娠期合并糖代谢异常虽然对新生儿的出生体重没有影响,但血糖仍然呈现低水平趋势,且对早产儿胰岛素敏感性可能有一定的影响。     

儿童白血病造血干细胞移植后免疫性血细胞减少症3例分析

目的探讨白血病造血干细胞移植后免疫性血细胞减少症发生的影响因素,治疗和预后。方法对3例造血干细胞移植后长期存活并发生免疫性血细胞减少症的白血病患儿的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果在19例移植后长期存活的患儿中,3例发生免疫性血细胞减少症,发生率为16%,男2例,女1例,分别发生在移植后+180 d、+186 d和+384 d;发生年龄分别为8岁、9岁8个月和9岁11个月;1例HLA 6/6相合,2例为5/6相合;均采用无关脐血移植,在预处理中使用兔抗人胸腺细胞免疫球蛋白(ATG)。仅有1例发生移植物抗宿主病(GVHD),2例在植入早期发生巨细胞病毒感染。3例均接受以糖皮质激素为基础的免疫抑制治疗,2例治疗反应良好,停药后无复发,1例需免疫抑制剂维持。结论在本研究中,性别、HLA配型差异、供受者血型不合、GVHD不是造血干细胞移植后免疫性血细胞减少症的危险因素。脐血移植、使用ATG和早期病毒感染可能与造血干细胞移植后免疫性血细胞减少症的发生有关,本病主要治疗手段为以糖皮质激素为基础的免疫抑制治疗。     

Risk factors for lower health-related QoL after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in children

To explore risk factors affecting HrQoL, we analyzed data from patients (n = 51) at least three yr beyond SCT and their parents (n = 41), who responded to the SCHQ, to a subjective symptom inventory and to a sense of coherence instrument, in parallel with a physician-rated scoring of late effects. Children with leukemia rated a lower HrQoL than children with non-malignant disease only in subscale RE, limitations in role socially because of the emotional difficulties (p < 0.05) but had more severe late effects (p < 0.05). Parents of children with leukemia rated their children's HrQoL overall lower in both the psychosocial area and physical area (p < 0.01) and the child's condition also had a greater impact on parents' emotional situation (p < 0.05), compared with parents of children with non-malignant diagnosis. The psychosocial HrQoL was more affected in recipients of an unrelated than of a sibling graft, according to both child (p < 0.01) and parent (p < 0.05). In the multiple regression analysis, however, late effects remained the only independent factor, contributing to low parental psychosocial (p < 0.05) and physical (p < 0.001) HrQoL ratings, while leukemia, unrelated donor and TBI did not. To conclude, parent-reported HrQoL was lower in SCT patients with leukemia, mainly due to a higher impact of late effects in this group.