Successful Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation From an Unrelated Donor for Aggressive Epstein-Barr Virus—Associated Clonal T-Cell Proliferation With Hemophagocytosis

We present here a case of aggressive Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated clonal T-cell proliferation with hemophagocytosis that was successfully treated by allogeneic stem cell transplantation using an unrelated donor. A 17-year-old woman was admitted into the hospital with a high fever and liver dysfunction. Laboratory data including bone marrow aspiration revealed hemophagocytic syndrome with proliferation of immature T-lymphoid cells. The clonal proliferation of EBV-infected T cells was confirmed by Southern blot analysis using a terminal-repeat probe from the EBV genome and also by demonstrating T cell-receptor beta gene rearrangement. Intensive immunochemotherapy consisting of cyclosporin A, vincristine, etoposide, and high-dose methylprednisolone did not control the disease and relapse occurred repeatedly. Therefore, during remission after chemotherapy according to the CHOP-E regimen, the patient underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from an HLA-matched, unrelated donor. Donor selection was performed with help from the Japanese Association for Marrow Donor Program (JMDP). The patient has remained in good condition without recurrence of disease for 18 months after BMT. Allogeneic BMT is the treatment of choice for aggressive EBV-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis even in the case where an HLA-matched sibling donor is not available, especially when the patient is refractory to intensive chemotherapy and/or there is a ready recurrence of disease after conventional therapy.     

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: proposal of a diagnostic algorithm based on perforin expression

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, fatal disorder of early infancy. Mutations of the PRF1 gene have been identified in a subset of patients. However, the distinction between the different genetically determined and environmental subtypes of the disease remains a major issue to be solved. This may result in delayed or inappropriate application of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We propose an algorithm that uses a combination of three rapid laboratory tests, i.e. perforin expression by peripheral lymphocytes, assessment of the behaviour of the 2B4 lymphocyte receptor and natural killer (NK) cell activity, to identify the different subgroups of HLH. In 19 patients diagnosed according to current criteria, we tested perforin expression, 2B4 receptor function and NK cell activity. PRF1 mutations were found in all seven patients showing absent perforin expression. In one male with abnormal behaviour of the 2B4 receptor, SH2D1A mutation confirmed the diagnosis of X-linked lymphoproliferative disease. Four patients with normal NK cell activity had evidence of associated infections. Of the seven with impaired NK cell activity, two had a probable genetically determined subtype of HLH and five appeared as sporadic, infection-associated cases. Improving the diagnostic approach may restrict the use of BMT, the only recognized curative treatment, to HLH patients with a documented poor prognosis while patients with milder disorders may be treated less intensively. Our flow chart could also lead to better selection of patients for specific gene analysis.     

噬血细胞综合征30例临床分析

目的:探讨噬血细胞综合征(HPS)的临床特点、诊断、治疗以及预后的危险因素。方法:对我院30例HPS患者的病因、临床表现、实验室检查指标、治疗方案及临床转归进行回顾性分析。结果:30例HPS病因以感染最多见(30%),其中EB病毒感染达20%,然而病因不明者也高达56.7%。HPS临床表现为持续高热(100%)、脾肿大(93.3%)、全血细胞减少(83.3%)、乳酸脱氢酶(100%)及血清铁蛋白(100%)升高。肝功能损害(90%)及心肌酶谱(60%)升高也较为常见。30例经治HPS患者30d、100d、1年的生存率分别为36.7%、23.3%、10.0%。其中7例给予包含VP16的化疗方案,30d、100d、1年的生存率分别为85.1%、71.4%、42.9%。结论:HPS可由多种病因所致,EB病毒最为常见,临床表现多样。发热、血清铁蛋白、乳酸脱氢酶升高在诊断中的灵敏度较高。包含VP16的化疗方案是有效的治疗方案。     

噬血细胞综合征患者血清促红细胞生成素表达水平的研究

目的:探讨血清促红细胞生成素(EPO)在噬血细胞综合征(HPS)患者中的表达水平及临床意义。方法:收集22例HPS患者及15例健康人血清,分别采用酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)方法检测其血清EPO水平,并与各实验室检查指标进行相关性分析。结果:HPS患者组血清EPO水平显著高于健康对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),感染相关性HPS患者和肿瘤相关性HPS患者血清EPO水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。检测HPS患者血清EPO水平与采血当日红细胞、血红蛋白、血肌酐、尿素氮、三酰甘油、纤维蛋白原、铁蛋白、NK细胞活性、sCD25水平的相关性,发现其与铁蛋白水平呈正相关关系,与其他各项实验室指标均无相关性。结论:HPS患者血清EPO升高可能与贫血、肿瘤有关,但由于炎性因子抑制了EPO对贫血反应的敏感性,所以与血红蛋白之间并无相关关系。EPO在疾病的发生、发展中可能起到一定作用。     

Incidence and Risk Factors for Acute Kidney Injury After Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association of baseline and postinfusion patient characteristics with acute kidney injury (AKI) in the month after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed records of 83 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma undergoing CAR-T therapy (axicabtagene ciloleucel) between June 2016 and November 2020. Patients were followed up to 1 month after treatment. Post–CAR-T AKI was defined as a more than 1.5-fold increase in serum creatinine concentration from baseline (on the day of CAR-T infusion) at any time up to 1 month after CAR-T therapy.ResultsOf 83 patients, 14 (17%) developed AKI during follow-up. At 1 month after CAR-T infusion, 10 of 14 (71%) AKI events had resolved. Lower baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, use of intravenous contrast material, tumor lysis prophylaxis, higher peak uric acid and creatine kinase levels during follow-up, and change in lactate dehydrogenase from baseline to peak level within 1 month after initiation of CAR-T therapy were significantly associated with AKI incidence during follow-up. Incidence of AKI was also higher in patients who received higher doses of corticosteroids and tocilizumab.ConclusionAcute kidney injury occurred in approximately 1 in 6 patients who received axicabtagene ciloleucel for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Patients with high tumor burden receiving higher total doses of corticosteroids or tocilizumab should be closely monitored for development of AKI. Lower baseline kidney function at CAR-T initiation, exposure to contrast material, and progressive increase in levels of tumor lysis markers (uric acid, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase) after CAR-T infusion may predict risk of AKI during the 1 month after infusion.     

Primary varicella-zoster virus infection of the immunocompromised associated with acute pancreatitis and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: A case report

Rationale:Primary varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection may be associated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), as well as with acute pancreatitis. However, there is few data concerning the evolution and the optimal treatment of these rare associations.Patient concerns:A 57-year-old immunocompromised woman, who was treated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia 3 years prior to admission, was hospitalized with abdominal pain revealing severe acute pancreatitis. The day after admission, a pruritic rash appeared on her face, trunk, and limbs, sparing the palmoplantar regions. At the same time, fever, thrombocytopenia (27 × 10⁹/L), major hyperferritinemia (11,063 μg/mL), hypertriglyceridemia (2.56 mmol/L) and elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels (1441 IU/L) suggested HLH.Diagnosis:The diagnosis of chickenpox (varicella) was established. Primary VZV infection was then confirmed: cutaneous and plasma VZV polymerase chain reactions were positives, VZV serology was negative for IgG.Interventions:Treatment with aciclovir was started intravenously after the onset of the rash, for a total of 10 days. A 48-h surveillance in intensive care was carried out.Outcomes:Acute pancreatitis and biological abnormalities evolved favorably under aciclovir. Platelet count was normalized 6 days after admission to hospital.Lessons:A favorable outcome of primary VZV infection associated with severe acute pancreatitis and probable HLH in an immunocompromised patient is possible with aciclovir alone.     

Fulminant Epstein–Barr virus‐associated hemophagocytic syndrome in a renal transplant patient and review of the literature

We describe a rare fulminant case of Epstein–Barr virus‐associated hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) in a 37‐year‐old female renal transplant patient, indistinguishable from severe sepsis clinically and in the laboratory. HPS involves rapidly escalating immune system activation, resulting in a cytokine cascade, which can, especially in immunocompromised patients, lead to multi‐organ failure, and even death. Thirty‐two Herpesviridae‐associated HPS cases in renal transplant patients have been reported and are reviewed. Overall mortality is 47% (15/32 cases).     

噬血细胞综合征12例临床分析

目的探讨噬血细胞综合征的临床表现、诊断及治疗方法。方法对12例患者进行回顾性分析。结果12例患者中感染相关性8例，肿瘤相关性3例，原因不明1例。治愈6例，好转1例，死亡5例。结论根据临床症状，体征和实验室检查，骨髓细胞学检查，多可获得诊断，对于治疗应主要针对病因，应用肾上腺糖皮质激素，由恶性疾病引起及病因未明者预后较差。     

Outcome for children after failed transplant for primary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Primary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare disorder of childhood, which is usually fatal without allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). For children who lack a matched family or closely matched unrelated donor, SCT using haploidentical parental stem cells has been used, but is associated with an increased risk of graft failure. The most appropriate subsequent management for those children who survive after graft rejection is currently unclear. We report the outcome for three such children. After a period of disease quiescence lasting 4 months to 8 years, disease recurrence and subsequent death occurred in each case. Accordingly, a second SCT is recommended.