Increased complications and morbidity in children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative option for patients with primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and for patients with secondary HLH who fail to respond to therapy. Retrospective study of HSCT for HLH with focus on complications and outcome. Eighteen children (10 males), with a median age of 1.2 yr (5 months-16 yr), received HSCT for HLH. Fourteen children had primary HLH. Four children underwent transplant while not in remission. Sixteen received myeloablative and two received reduced intensity conditioning regimen. A high incidence of complications was found: 13 (72%) children had 22 episodes of culture-proven infections; seven (38%) had hepatic veno-occlusive disease; nine (50%) developed respiratory complications; and nine (50%) required intensive care unit admission. Eight children had acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and three developed chronic GVHD. Three patients died from multi-organ failure before day +100, and another patient died from pulmonary hemorrhage after day 100. Three patients failed to engraft (two developed recurrent HLH and died from complications after a second HSCT). Three of four children not in remission at the time of transplantation died. Actuarial survival at three yr was 61%. HSCT for HLH carries significant risks with high infection, organ dysfunction, and ICU admissions rates.

Naithani R ，Asim M ，Naqvi A ，Weitzman S ，Gassas A ，Doyle J ，Schechter T ... -  《-》

The outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Korean children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Yoon HS ，Im HJ ，Moon HN ，Lee JH ，Kim HJ ，Yoo KH ，Sung KW ，Koo HH ，Kang HJ ，Shin HY ，Ahn HS ，Cho B ，Kim HK ，Lyu CJ ，Lee MJ ，Kook H ，Hwang TJ ，Seo JJ ... -  《-》

Fludarabine-based reduced-intensity conditioning regimen for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening condition that clinically characterized by fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and cytopenia. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment option for patients diagnosed with primary HLH. In this prospective study, we analyzed the outcome of 10 pediatric patients with primary HLH who had received HSCT, using reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen from 2007 to 2012. The median age at transplantation was 22.6 months (range: 6-60). All of the patients received the same RIC regimen based on the use of fludarabine in combination with melphalan and horse antithymocyte globulin (ATG). Cyclosporine and methylprednisolone were used as graft-vs.-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis. Hematopoietic engraftment occurred in all patients. At the present time, 8 patients with a median follow-up of 39 months are still alive and all of them are disease free. Acute and chronic GvHD developed in 6 and 2 patients, retrospectively. Two patients died of sepsis and chronic GvHD during the study. Because of pretransplant infections caused by underlying immunodeficiency in patients with primary HLH, the use of less toxic regimen with RIC seems to be highly effective in this regard. Recipients of RIC transplant, with either full or mixed chimerism, had a long-term survival rate with no manifestation of primary HLH symptoms.

Hamidieh AA ，Pourpak Z ，Hashemi S ，Yari K ，Fazlollahi MR ，Movahedi M ，Behfar M ，Moin M ，Ghavamzadeh A ... -  《-》

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and Epstein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in Japan.

Post-transplant outcomes of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) patients were analyzed in Japan where Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated severe forms are problematic. Fifty-seven patients (43 familial HLH [12 FHL2, 11 FHL3, 20 undefined], 14 EBV-HLH) who underwent stem cell transplantation (SCT) between 1995 and 2005 were enrolled based on the nationwide registration. Fifty-seven patients underwent 61 SCTs, including 4 consecutive SCTs. SCTs were employed using allogeneic donors in 93% of cases (allo 53, twin 1, auto 3). Unrelated donor cord blood transplantation (UCBT) was employed in half of cases (21 FHL, 7 EBV-HLH). Reduced intensity conditioning was used in 26% of cases. The 10-year overall survival rates (median +/- SE%) were 65.0 +/- 7.9% in FHL and 85.7 +/- 9.4% in EBV-HLH patients, respectively. The survival of UCBT recipients was >65% in both FHL and EBV-HLH patients. Three out of four patients were alive with successful engraftment after second UCBT. FHL patients showed a poorer outcome due to early treatment-related deaths (<100 days, seven patients) and a higher incidence of sequelae than EBV-HLH patients (P = 0.02). The risk of death for FHL patients having received an unrelated donor bone marrow transplant was marginally higher than that for a related donor SCT (P = 0.05) and that for UCBT (P = 0.07). EBV-HLH patients had a better prognosis after SCT than FHL patients. FHL patients showed either an equal or better outcome even after UCBT compared with the recent reports. UCB might therefore be acceptable as an alternate SCT source for HLH patients, although the optimal conditioning remains to be determined.

Ohga S ，Kudo K ，Ishii E ，Honjo S ，Morimoto A ，Osugi Y ，Sawada A ，Inoue M ，Tabuchi K ，Suzuki N ，Ishida Y ，Imashuku S ，Kato S ，Hara T ... -  《-》

Risk for complications in patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis who undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: myeloablative versus reduced-intensity conditioning regimens.

Schechter T ，Naqvi A ，Weitzman S 《-》