Terminal complement blockade by humanised monoclonal antibody eculizumab has been used to treat transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) in recent years. This retrospective... Show moreTerminal complement blockade by humanised monoclonal antibody eculizumab has been used to treat transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) in recent years. This retrospective international study conducted by the Paediatric Diseases (PDWP) and Inborn Error Working Party (IEWP) of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) describes outcome and response of 82 paediatric patients from 29 centres who developed TA-TMA and were treated with eculizumab between January 2014 and May 2019. The median time from hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) to TA-TMA manifestation was 92 days (range: 7-606) and from TA-TMA diagnosis to the start of eculizumab treatment 6 days (range: 0-135). Most patients received eculizumab weekly (72%, n = 55) with a standard weight (kg)-based dose (78%, n = 64). Six months from beginning of eculizumab therapy, the cumulative incidence of TA-TMA resolution was 36.6% (95% CI: 26.2-47) and the overall survival (OS) was 47.1% (95% CI: 35.9-57.5). All 43 patients with unresolved TA-TMA died. The cause of death was HSCT-related in 41 patients. This study also documents poor outcome of patients without aGvHD and their frequent concomitant viral infections. Considering recent publications, intensified eculizumab dosing and complement monitoring could potentially improve upon outcomes observed in this study. Show less
Miano, M.; Eikema, D.J.; Fuente, J. de la; Bosman, P.; Ghavamzadeh, A.; Smiers, F.; ... ; Dufour, C. 2021
Data on stem cell transplantation (SCT) for Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA) is limited. We studied patients transplanted for DBA and registered in the EBMT database. Between 1985 and 2016, 106 DBA... Show moreData on stem cell transplantation (SCT) for Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA) is limited. We studied patients transplanted for DBA and registered in the EBMT database. Between 1985 and 2016, 106 DBA patients (median age, 6.8 years) underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from matched-sibling donors (57%), unrelated donors (36%), or other related donors (7%), using marrow (68%), peripheral blood stem cells (20%), both marrow and peripheral blood stem cells (1%), or cord blood (11%). The cumulative incidence of engraftment was 86% (80% to 93%), and neutrophil recovery and platelet recovery were achieved on day +18 (range, 16 to 20) and +36 (range, 32 to 43), respectively. Three-year overall survival and event-free survival were 84% (77% to 91%) and 81% (74% to 89%), respectively. Older patients were significantly more likely to die (hazard ratio, 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 1.23; P < .001). Outcomes were similar between sibling compared to unrelated-donor transplants. The incidence of acute grades II to IV of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 30% (21% to 39%), and the incidence of extensive chronic GVHD was 15% (7% to 22%). This study shows that SCT may represent an alternative therapeutic option for transfusion-dependent younger patients. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Show less
Zubicaray, J.; Pagliara, D.; Sevilla, J.; Eikema, D.J.; Bosman, P.; Ayas, M.; ... ; Latour, R.P. de 2021
Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the only curative option for bone marrow failure or hematopoietic malignant diseases for Fanconi anemia (FA) patients. Although results have... Show moreAllogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the only curative option for bone marrow failure or hematopoietic malignant diseases for Fanconi anemia (FA) patients. Although results have improved over the last decades, reaching more than 90% survival when a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical donor is available, alternative HCT donors are still less reported. We compared HCT outcomes using HLA-mismatched unrelated donors (MMUD; n = 123) or haplo-identical donors (HDs), either using only in vivo T cell depletion (n = 33) or T cells depleted in vivo with some type of graft manipulation ex vivo (n = 59) performed for FA between 2000 and 2018. Overall survival (OS) by 24 months was 62% (53-71%) for MMUD, versus 80% (66-95%) for HDs with only in vivo T cell depletion and 60% (47-73%) for HDs with in vivo and ex vivo T cell depletion (p = .22). Event-free survival (EFS) was better for HD-transplanted FA patients with only in vivo T cell depletion 86% (73-99%) than for those transplanted from a MMUD 58% (48-68%) or those with graft manipulation 56% (42-69%) (p = .046). Grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 41% (MMUD) versus 40% (HDs with no graft manipulation) versus 17% (HDs with T cell depleted graft), (p = .005). No differences were found for the other transplant related outcomes. These data suggest that HDs might be considered as an alternative option for FA patients with better EFS using unmanipulated grafts. Show less
Cesaro, S.; Pillon, M.; Sauer, M.; Smiers, F.; Faraci, M.; Heredia, C.D. de; ... ; Dufour, C. 2020
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative procedure in patients with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) with bone marrow abnormalities. The results of 74 patients with... Show moreAllogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative procedure in patients with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) with bone marrow abnormalities. The results of 74 patients with SDS (6 acute myeloid leukemia, 7 myelodysplastic syndrome, and 61 bone marrow failure) treated with HSCT between 1988 and 2016 are reported. The donor source was: 24% sibling, 8% parent, and 68% unrelated donor. The stem cell source was: 70% bone marrow, 19% peripheral blood stem cells, and 11% cord blood. The conditioning regimen was myeloablative in 54% and reduced intensity in 46%. Neutrophil engraftment was achieved in 84% of patients after a median time of 17.5 days. Graft failure occurred in 15% of HSCTs. Grades I-IV acute and chronic GVHD were observed in 55% and 20% of patients, respectively. After a median follow-up of 7.3 years (95% CI 4.8-10.2), 28 patients died for progression/relapse (7) or toxicity (21). The 5-year overall survival and nonrelapse mortality were 63.3% (95% CI 50.8-73.4) and 19.8% (95% CI 10.8-30.8), respectively. In conclusion, this is the largest series so far reported and confirms that HSCT is a suitable option for patients with SDS. Further efforts are needed to lower transplant-related toxicity and reduce graft failure. Show less
Willasch, A.M.; Peters, C.; Sedlacek, P.; Dalle, J.H.; Kitra-Roussou, V.; Yesilipek, A.; ... ; EBMT Paediat Dis Working Party 2020
Although most children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receive fractionated total body irradiation (FTBI) as myeloablative conditioning (MAC) for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell... Show moreAlthough most children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receive fractionated total body irradiation (FTBI) as myeloablative conditioning (MAC) for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), it is an important matter of debate if chemotherapy can effectively replace FTBI. To compare outcomes after FTBI versus chemotherapy-based conditioning (CC), we performed a retrospective EBMT registry study. Children aged 2-18 years after MAC for first allo-HSCT of bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) from matched-related (MRD) or unrelated donors (UD) in first (CR1) or second remission (CR2) between 2000 and 2012 were included. Propensity score weighting was used to control pretreatment imbalances of the observed variables. 3.054 patients were analyzed. CR1 (1.498): median follow-up (FU) after FTBI (1.285) and CC (213) was 6.8 and 6.1 years. Survivals were not significantly different. CR2 (1.556): median FU after FTBI (1.345) and CC (211) was 6.2 years. Outcomes after FTBI were superior as compared with CC with regard to overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS), relapse incidence (RI), and nonrelapse mortality (NRM). However, we must emphasize the preliminary character of the results of this retrospective "real-world-practice" study. These findings will be prospectively assessed in the ALL SCTped 2012 FORUM trial. Show less
Miano, M.; Eikema, D.J.; Aljurf, M.; van't Veer, P.J.; Ozturk, G.; Wolfl, M.; ... ; Dufour, C. 2019
BACKGROUND: Although autoimmunity and hyperinflammation secondary to recombination activating gene (RAG) deficiency have been associated with delayed diagnosis and even death, our current... Show moreBACKGROUND: Although autoimmunity and hyperinflammation secondary to recombination activating gene (RAG) deficiency have been associated with delayed diagnosis and even death, our current understanding is limited primarily to small case series.OBJECTIVE: Understand the frequency, severity, and treatment responsiveness of autoimmunity and hyperinflammation in RAG deficiency.METHODS: In reviewing the literature and our own database, we identified 85 patients with RAG deficiency, reported between 2001 and 2016, and compiled the largest case series to date of 63 patients with prominent autoimmune and/or hyperinflammatory pathology.RESULTS: Diagnosis of RAG deficiency was delayed a median of 5 years from the first clinical signs of immune dysregulation. Most patients (55.6%) presented with more than 1 autoimmune or hyperinflammatory complication, with the most common etiologies being cytopenias (84.1%), granulomas (23.8%), and inflammatory skin disorders (19.0%). Infections, including live viral vaccinations, closely preceded the onset of autoimmunity in 28.6% of cases. Autoimmune cytopenias had early onset (median, 1.9, 2.1, and 2.6 years for autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, and autoimmune neutropenia, respectively) and were refractory to intravenous immunoglobulin, steroids, and rituximab in most cases (64.7%, 73.7%, and 71.4% for autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, and autoimmune neutropenia, respectively). Evans syndrome specifically was associated with lack of response to first-line therapy. Treatment-refractory autoimmunity/ hyperinflammation prompted hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 20 patients.CONCLUSIONS: Autoimmunity/hyperinflammation can be a presenting sign of RAG deficiency and should prompt further evaluation. Multilineage cytopenias are often refractory to immunosuppressive treatment and may require hematopoietic cell transplantation for definitive management. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Show less
