Expanding the PRAAS spectrum: De novo mutations of immunoproteasome subunit ß-type 10 in six infants with SCID-Omenn syndrome.

Mutations in proteasome ß-subunits or their chaperone and regulatory proteins are associated with proteasome-associated autoinflammatory disorders (PRAAS). We studied six unrelated infants with three de novo heterozygous missense variants in PSMB10, encoding the proteasome ß2i-subunit. Individuals presented with T-B-NK± severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and clinical features suggestive of Omenn syndrome, including diarrhea, alopecia, and desquamating erythematous rash. Remaining T cells had limited T cell receptor repertoires, a skewed memory phenotype, and an elevated CD4/CD8 ratio. Bone marrow examination indicated severely impaired B cell maturation with limited V(D)J recombination. All infants received an allogeneic stem cell transplant and exhibited a variety of severe inflammatory complications thereafter, with 2 peri-transplant and 2 delayed deaths. The single long-term transplant survivor showed evidence for genetic rescue through revertant mosaicism overlapping the affected PSMB10 locus. The identified variants (c.166G>C [p.Asp56His] and c.601G>A/c.601G>C [p.Gly201Arg]) were predicted in silico to profoundly disrupt 20S immunoproteasome structure through impaired ß-ring/ß-ring interaction. Our identification of PSMB10 mutations as a cause of SCID-Omenn syndrome reinforces the connection between PRAAS-related diseases and SCID.

Outcomes of HLA-mismatched HSCT with TCRαß/CD19 depletion or post-HSCT cyclophosphamide for inborn errors of immunity.

ABSTRACT: HLA-mismatched transplants with either in vitro depletion of CD3+ T-cell receptor (TCR)αß/CD19 (TCRαß) cells or in vivo T-cell depletion using posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PTCY) have been increasingly used for patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEIs). We performed a retrospective multicenter study via the EBMT registry on 306 children with IEIs undergoing their first transplant between 2010 and 2019 from an HLA-mismatched donor using TCRαß (n = 167) or PTCY (n = 139). The median age for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was 1.2 years (range, 0.03-19.6 years). The 3-year overall survival (OS) was 78% (95% confidence interval (CI), 71-84) after TCRαß and 66% (57-74) after PTCY (P = .013). Pre-HSCT morbidity score (hazard ratio [HR], 2.27; 1.07-4.80, P = .032) and non-busulfan/treosulfan conditioning (HR, 3.12; 1.98-4.92, P < .001) were the only independent predictors of unfavorable OS. The 3-year event-free survival (EFS) was 58% (50%-66%) after TCRαß and 57% (48%-66%) after PTCY (P = .804). The cumulative incidence of severe acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) was higher after PTCY (15%, 9%-21%) than TCRαß (6%, 2%-9%, P = .007), with no difference in chronic GvHD (PTCY, 11%, 6%-17%; TCRαß, 7%, 3%-11%, P = .173). The 3-year GvHD-free EFS was 53% (44%-61%) after TCRαß and 41% (32%-50%) after PTCY (P = .080). PTCY had significantly higher rates of veno-occlusive disease (14.4% vs TCRαß 4.9%, P = .009), acute kidney injury (12.7% vs 4.6%, P = .032), and pulmonary complications (38.2% vs 24.1%, P = .017). Adenoviremia (18.3% vs PTCY 8.0%, P = .015), primary graft failure (10% vs 5%, P = .048), and second HSCT (17.4% vs 7.9%, P = .023) were significantly higher in TCRαß. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that both approaches are suitable options in patients with IEIs, although they are characterized by different advantages and outcomes.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: a study of 577 patients defines the genotype as a biomarker for disease severity and survival.

ABSTRACT: Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a multifaceted monogenic disorder with a broad disease spectrum and variable disease severity and a variety of treatment options including allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and gene therapy (GT). No reliable biomarker exists to predict disease course and outcome for individual patients. A total of 577 patients with a WAS variant from 26 countries and a median follow-up of 8.9 years (range, 0.3-71.1), totaling 6118 patient-years, were included in this international retrospective study. Overall survival (OS) of the cohort (censored at HSCT or GT) was 82% (95% confidence interval, 78-87) at age 15 years and 70% (61-80) at 30 years. The type of variant was predictive of outcome: patients with a missense variant in exons 1 or 2 or with the intronic hot spot variant c.559+5G>A (class I variants) had a 15-year OS of 93% (89-98) and a 30-year OS of 91% (86-97), compared with 71% (62-81) and 48% (34-68) in patients with any other variant (class II; P < .0001). The cumulative incidence rates of disease-related complications such as severe bleeding (P = .007), life-threatening infection (P < .0001), and autoimmunity (P = .004) occurred significantly later in patients with a class I variant. The cumulative incidence of malignancy (P = .6) was not different between classes I and II. It confirms the spectrum of disease severity and quantifies the risk for specific disease-related complications. The class of the variant is a biomarker to predict the outcome for patients with WAS.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for CTLA-4 insufficiency across Europe: A European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Inborn Errors Working Party study.

BACKGROUND: Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) insufficiency causes a primary immune regulatory disorder characterized by lymphoproliferation, dysgammaglobulinemia, and multiorgan autoimmunity including cytopenias and colitis. OBJECTIVE: We examined the outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for CTLA-4 insufficiency and study the impact of pre-HSCT CTLA-4 fusion protein (CTLA-4-Ig) therapy and pre-HSCT immune dysregulation on survival and immunologic outcome. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of HSCT for CTLA-4 insufficiency and 2q33.2-3 deletion from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Inborn Errors Working Party. Primary end points were overall survival (OS) and disease- and chronic graft-versus-host disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary end point was immunologic outcome assessed by immune dysregulation disease activity (IDDA) score. RESULTS: Forty patients were included over a 25-year period. Before HSCT, 60% received CTLA-4-Ig, and median (range) IDDA score was 23.3 (3.9-84.0). Median (range) age at HSCT was 14.2 (1.3-56.0) years. Patients received peripheral blood stem cell (58%) or marrow (43%) from a matched unrelated donor (75%), mismatched unrelated donor (12.5%), or matched family donor (12.5%). Median (range) follow-up was 3 (0.6-15) years, and 3-year OS was 76.7% (58-87%) and DFS was 74.4% (54.9-86.0%). At latest follow-up, disease of 28 of 30 surviving patients was in disease-free remission with median IDDA reduction of 16. Probability of OS and DFS was greater in patients with lower disease activity before HSCT (IDDA < 23, P = .002 and P = .006, respectively). CTLA-4-Ig receipt did not influence OS or DFS. Cause of death was transplant related in 7 of 8 patients. CONCLUSION: HSCT is an effective therapy to prevent ongoing disease progression and morbidity, with improving survival rates over time and in patients with lower pre-HSCT disease activity.

JAK inhibitor treatment for inborn errors of JAK/STAT signaling: An ESID/EBMT-IEWP retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) with dysregulated JAK/STAT signaling present with variable manifestations of immune dysregulation and infections. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is potentially curative, but initially reported outcomes were poor. JAK inhibitors (JAKi) offer a targeted treatment option that may be an alternative or bridge to HSCT. However, data on their current use, treatment efficacy and adverse events are limited. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the current off-label JAKi treatment experience for JAK/STAT inborn errors of immunity (IEI) among European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID)/European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Inborn Errors Working Party (IEWP) centers. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study on patients with a genetic disorder of hyperactive JAK/STAT signaling who received JAKi treatment for at least 3 months. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients (72% children) were evaluated (45 STAT1 gain of function [GOF], 21 STAT3-GOF, 1 STAT5B-GOF, 1 suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 [aka SOCS1] loss of function, 1 JAK1-GOF). Ruxolitinib was the predominantly prescribed JAKi (80%). Overall, treatment resulted in improvement (partial or complete remission) of clinical symptoms in 87% of STAT1-GOF and in 90% of STAT3-GOF patients. We documented highly heterogeneous dosing and monitoring regimens. The response rate and time to response varied across different diseases and manifestations. Adverse events including infection and weight gain were frequent (38% of patients) but were mild (grade I-II) and transient in most patients. At last follow-up, 52 (74%) of 69 patients were still receiving JAKi treatment, and 11 patients eventually underwent HSCT after receipt of previous JAKi bridging therapy, with 91% overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that JAKi may be highly effective to treat symptomatic JAK/STAT IEI patients. Prospective studies to define optimal JAKi dosing for the variable clinical presentations and age ranges should be pursued.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Immunodeficiency-Centromeric Instability-Facial Dysmorphism (ICF) Syndrome: an EBMT/ESID Inborn Errors Working Party Study.

Immunodeficiency-Centromeric instability-Facial dysmorphism (ICF) syndrome is an inborn error of immunity characterized by progressive immune dysfunction and multi-organ disease usually treated with antimicrobial prophylaxis and immunoglobulin substitution. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment, but data on outcome are scarce. We provide a detailed description of disease characteristics and HSCT outcome in an international cohort of ICF syndrome patients. Eighteen patients (including all four genotypes) were enrolled. Main HSCT indications were infections (83%), enteropathy/failure to thrive (56%), immune dysregulation (22%) and myelodysplasia/haematological malignancy (17%). Two patients underwent pre-emptive HSCT after early diagnosis. Patients were transplanted between 2003-2021, at median age 4.3 years (range 0.5-19), after myeloablative or reduced-intensity conditioning, from matched sibling or matched family donors, matched unrelated or mismatched donors in 39%, 50% and 12% of cases respectively. Overall survival was 83% (all deaths occurred within the first 5 months post-HSCT; mean follow-up 54 months (range 1-185)). Acute GvHD occurred in 35% of patients, severe (grade III) in two (12%), while none developed chronic GvHD. At latest follow-up (median 2.2 years (range 0.1-14)), complete donor chimerism was achieved in 15/17 surviving patients. All survivors demonstrated normalized T and B cell numbers. Immunoglobulin substitution independence was achieved in all but two patients. All survivors recovered from pre-transplant infections, enteropathy/failure to thrive and immune dysregulation. All three patients transplanted at young age (≤ 3 years), after early diagnosis, survived. The favourable clinical and immunological HSCT outcome in this cohort of patients supports the timely use of this curative treatment in ICF syndrome.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: an EBMT Inborn Errors Working Party analysis.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a potentially curative treatment for patients affected by Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS). Reported HSCT outcomes have improved over time with respect to overall survival, but some studies have identified older age and HSCT from alternative donors as risk factors predicting poorer outcome. We analyzed 197 patients undergoing transplant at European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation centers between 2006 and 2017 who received conditioning as recommended by the Inborn Errors Working Party (IEWP): either busulfan (n = 103) or treosulfan (n = 94) combined with fludarabine ± thiotepa. After a median follow-up post-HSCT of 44.9 months, 176 patients were alive, resulting in a 3-year overall survival of 88.7% and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-free survival (events include death, graft failure, and severe chronic GVHD) of 81.7%. Overall survival and chronic GVHD-free survival were not significantly affected by conditioning regimen (busulfan- vs treosulfan-based), donor type (matched sibling donor/matched family donor vs matched unrelated donor/mismatched unrelated donor vs mismatched family donor), or period of HSCT (2006-2013 vs 2014-2017). Patients aged <5 years at HSCT had a significantly better overall survival. The overall cumulative incidences of grade III to IV acute GVHD and extensive/moderate/severe chronic GVHD were 6.6% and 2.1%, respectively. Patients receiving treosulfan-based conditioning had a higher incidence of graft failure and mixed donor chimerism and more frequently underwent secondary procedures (second HSCT, unconditioned stem cell boost, donor lymphocyte infusion, or splenectomy). In summary, HSCT for WAS with conditioning regimens currently recommended by IEWP results in excellent survival and low rates of GVHD, regardless of donor or stem cell source, but age ≥5 years remains a risk factor for overall survival.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for adolescents and adults with inborn errors of immunity: an EBMT IEWP study.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the gold standard curative therapy for infants and children with many inborn errors of immunity (IEI), but adolescents and adults with IEI are rarely referred for transplant. Lack of published HSCT outcome data outside small, single-center studies and perceived high risk of transplant-related mortality have delayed the adoption of HSCT for IEI patients presenting or developing significant organ damage later in life. This large retrospective, multicenter HSCT outcome study reports on 329 IEI patients (age range, 15-62.5 years at HSCT). Patients underwent first HSCT between 2000 and 2019. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS). We also evaluated the influence of IEI-subgroup and IEI-specific risk factors at HSCT, including infections, bronchiectasis, colitis, malignancy, inflammatory lung disease, splenectomy, hepatic dysfunction, and systemic immunosuppression. At a median follow-up of 44.3 months, the estimated OS at 1 and 5 years post-HSCT for all patients was 78% and 71%, and EFS was 65% and 62%, respectively, with low rates of severe acute (8%) or extensive chronic (7%) graft-versus-host disease. On univariate analysis, OS and EFS were inferior in patients with primary antibody deficiency, bronchiectasis, prior splenectomy, hepatic comorbidity, and higher hematopoietic cell transplant comorbidity index scores. On multivariable analysis, EFS was inferior in those with a higher number of IEI-associated complications. Neither age nor donor had a significant effect on OS or EFS. We have identified age-independent risk factors for adverse outcome, providing much needed evidence to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from HSCT.

Outcome of Second Allogeneic HSCT for Patients with Inborn Errors of Immunity: Retrospective Study of 20 Years' Experience.

A significant complication of HSCT is graft failure, although few studies focus on this problem in patients with inborn errors of immunity (IE). We explored outcome of second HSCT for IEI by a retrospective, single-centre study between 2002 and 2022. Four hundred ninety-three patients underwent allogeneic HSCT for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID; n = 113, 22.9%) or non-SCID IEI (n = 380, 77.1%). Thirty patients (6.0%) required second HSCT. Unconditioned infusion or no serotherapy at first HSCT was more common in patients who required second transplant. Median interval between first and second HSCT was 0.97 years (range: 0.19-8.60 years); a different donor was selected for second HSCT in 24/30 (80.0%) patients. Conditioning regimens for second HSCT were predominately treosulfan-based (with thiotepa: n = 18, 60.0%; without, n = 6, 20.0%). Patients received grafts from peripheral blood stem cell (n = 25, 83.3%) or bone marrow (n = 5, 16.7%) with median stem cell dose 9.5 × 106 CD34 + cells/kilogram (range: 1.4-32.3). Median follow-up was 1.92 years (0.22-16.0). Overall survival was 80.8% and event-free survival was 64.7%. Four patients died, two of early-transplant related complications, and two of late sepsis post-second HSCT. Three patients required third HSCT; all are alive with 100% donor chimerism. Cumulative incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease was 28.4%, (all grade I-II). Viral reactivation was seen in 13/30 (43.3%) patients, including HHV6 (n = 6), CMV (n = 4), and adenovirus (n = 2). At latest follow-up, 25/26 surviving patients have donor chimerism ≥ 90% and 16/25 (64.0%) have discontinued immunoglobulin replacement. Second HSCT offers IEI patients with graft failure curative treatment with good overall survival and immunological recovery.

Allogeneic HSCT for Symptomatic Female X-linked Chronic Granulomatous Disease Carriers.

X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (XL-CGD) is an inherited disorder of superoxide production, causing failure to generate the oxidative burst in phagocytes. It is characterized by invasive bacterial and fungal infections, inflammation, and chronic autoimmune disease. While XL-CGD carriers were previously assumed to be healthy, a range of clinical manifestations with significant morbidity have recently been described in a subgroup of carriers with impaired neutrophil oxidative burst due to skewed lyonization. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the standard curative treatment for CGD but has rarely been reported in individual symptomatic carriers to date. We undertook a retrospective international survey of outcome of HSCT for symptomatic XL-CGD carriers. Seven symptomatic female XL-CGD carriers aged 1-56 years underwent HSCT in four centers, indicated for severe and recurrent infection, colitis, and autoimmunity. Two patients died from transplant-related complications, following donor engraftment and restoration of oxidative burst. All surviving patients demonstrated resolution of their neutrophil oxidative burst defect with concordant reduction in infection and inflammatory symptoms and freedom from further immunosuppressive therapy. In conclusion, allogeneic HSCT may cure the phagocyte defect in symptomatic XL-CGD carriers and improve their recurrent and disabling infective and inflammatory symptoms but risks transplant-related complications.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation in severe combined immunodeficiency: The SCETIDE 2006-2014 European cohort.

BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) represents a curative treatment for patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a group of monogenic immune disorders with an otherwise fatal outcome. OBJECTIVE: We performed a comprehensive multicenter analysis of genotype-specific HSCT outcome, including detailed analysis of immune reconstitution (IR) and the predictive value for clinical outcome. METHODS: HSCT outcome was studied in 338 patients with genetically confirmed SCID who underwent transplantation in 2006-2014 and who were registered in the SCETIDE registry. In a representative subgroup of 152 patients, data on IR and long-term clinical outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: Two-year OS was similar with matched family and unrelated donors and better than mismatched donor HSCT (P < .001). The 2-year event-free survival (EFS) was similar in matched and mismatched unrelated donor and less favorable in mismatched related donor (MMRD) HSCT (P < .001). Genetic subgroups did not differ in 2-year OS (P = .1) and EFS (P = .073). In multivariate analysis, pretransplantation infections and use of MMRDs were associated with less favorable OS and EFS. With a median follow-up of 6.2 years (range, 2.0-11.8 years), 73 of 152 patients in the IR cohort were alive and well without Ig dependency. IL-2 receptor gamma chain/Janus kinase 3/IL-7 receptor-deficient SCID, myeloablative conditioning, matched donor HSCT, and naive CD4 T lymphocytes >0.5 × 10e3/µL at +1 year were identified as independent predictors of favorable clinical and immunologic outcome. CONCLUSION: Recent advances in HSCT in SCID patients have resulted in improved OS and EFS in all genotypes and donor types. To achieve a favorable long-term outcome, treatment strategies should aim for optimal naive CD4 T lymphocyte regeneration.

Advances in the treatment of severe combined immunodeficiency.

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) is the most profound inborn error of immunity affecting cellular and humoral immunity. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been a curative treatment since 1968. Huge progress has been made since then in understanding the underlying genetics, improving outcomes from transplant, and introducing gene therapy in particular for adenosine deaminase deficient- and IL2 receptor gamma-deficient SCID. Newborn screening has been widely introduced across the world to enable definitive treatment before infection occurs. This article aims to review the latest evidence on how to achieve curative treatment with minimal short- and long-term toxicity, normal immune reconstitution and good quality of life.

TCRαß-Depleted Haploidentical Grafts Are a Safe Alternative to HLA-Matched Unrelated Donor Stem Cell Transplants for Infants with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and gene therapy are the only curative therapies for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). In patients lacking a matched donor, TCRαß/CD19-depleted haploidentical family donor transplant (TCRαß-HaploSCT) is a promising strategy. Conditioned transplant in SCID correlates to better myeloid chimerism and reduced immunoglobulin dependency. We studied transplant outcome in SCID infants according to donor type, specifically TCRαß-HaploSCT, and conditioning, through retrospective cohort analysis of 52 consecutive infants with SCID transplanted between 2013 and 2020. Median age at transplant was 5.1 months (range, 0.8-16.6). Donors were TCRαß-HaploSCT (n = 16, 31.4%), matched family donor (MFD, n = 15, 29.4%), matched unrelated donor (MUD, n = 9, 17.6%), and matched unrelated cord blood (CB, n = 11, 21.6%). Forty-one (80%) received fludarabine/treosulfan-based conditioning, 3 (6%) had alemtuzumab only, and 7 (14%) received unconditioned infusions. For conditioned transplants (n = 41), 3-year overall survival was 91% (95% confidence interval, 52-99%) for TCRαß-HaploSCT, 80% (41-98%) for MFD, 87% (36-98%) for MUD, and 89% (43-98%) for CB (p = 0.89). Cumulative incidence of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease was 11% (2-79%) after TCRαß-HaploSCT, 0 after MFD, 29% (7-100%) after MUD, and 11% (2-79%) after CB (p = 0.10). 9/10 patients who received alemtuzumab-only or unconditioned transplants survived. Myeloid chimerism was higher following conditioning (median 47%, range 0-100%) versus unconditioned transplant (median 3%, 0-9%) (p < 0.001), as was the proportion of immunoglobulin-free long-term survivors (n = 29/36, 81% vs n = 4/9, 54%) (p < 0.001). TCRαß-HaploSCT has comparable outcome to MUD and is a promising alternative donor strategy for infants with SCID lacking MFD. This study confirms that conditioned transplant offers better myeloid chimerism and immunoglobulin freedom in long-term survivors.

Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Adenosine Deaminase Severe Combined Immunodeficiency-Improved Outcomes in the Modern Era.

Current treatment for adenosine deaminase (ADA)-deficient severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) includes enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), or ex vivo corrected autologous hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy. Historic data show HSCT survival is superior using unconditioned matched sibling and family compared to matched unrelated and haploidentical donors. Recent improvement in HSCT outcomes prompted us to retrospectively examine HSCT survival and long-term graft function in ADA-SCID transplanted at our center. Thirty-three ADA-deficient patients received HSCT between 1989 and 2020, with follow-up data to January 2021. Chemotherapy conditioning regimens were defined as myeloablative (MAC-busulfan/cyclophosphamide), reduced-toxicity myeloablative (RT-MAC-treosulfan-based, since 2007), or no conditioning. Serotherapy used included alemtuzumab (with or without other conditioning agents) or antithymocyte globulin (ATG). ERT was introduced routinely in 2010 until commencement of conditioning. Median age at HSCT was 3.2 (0.8-99.8) months. Twenty-one (63.6%) received stem cells from unrelated or haploidentical donors. Seventeen (51.5%) received chemotherapy conditioning and 16 (48.5%) received alemtuzumab. Median follow-up was 7.5 (0.8-25.0) years. Overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) at 8 years were 90.9% (95% CI: 79.7-100.0%) and 79% (55-91%), respectively. OS after 2007 (n = 21) was 100% vs 75% before 2007 (n = 12) (p = 0.02). Three (9.1%) died after HSCT: two from multiorgan failure and one from unexplained encephalopathy. There were no deaths after 2007, among those who received ERT and treosulfan-based conditioning pre-HSCT. Ten (30.3%) developed acute GvDH (3 grade II, 2 grade III); no chronic GvHD was observed. In the modern era, conditioned HSCT with MUD has a favorable outcome for ADA-deficient patients.

Improved transplant survival and long-term disease outcome in children with MHC class II deficiency.

MHC class II deficiency is a rare, but life-threatening, primary combined immunodeficiency. Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) remains the only curative treatment for this condition, but transplant survival in the previously published result was poor. We analyzed the outcome of 25 patients with MHC class II deficiency undergoing first HCT at Great North Children's Hospital between 1995 and 2018. Median age at diagnosis was 6.5 months (birth to 7.5 years). Median age at transplant was 21.4 months (0.1-7.8 years). Donors were matched family donors (MFDs; n = 6), unrelated donors (UDs; n = 12), and haploidentical donors (HIDs; n = 7). Peripheral blood stem cells were the stem cell source in 68% of patients. Conditioning was treosulfanbased in 84% of patients; 84% received alemtuzumab (n = 14) or anti-thymocyte globulin (n = 8) as serotherapy. With a 2.9-year median follow-up, OS improved from 33% (46-68%) for HCT before 2008 (n = 6) to 94% (66-99%) for HCT after 2008 (n = 19; P = .003). For HCT after 2008, OS according to donor was 100% for MFDs and UDs and 85% for HIDs (P = .40). None had grade III-IV acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease. Latest median donor myeloid and lymphocyte chimerism were 100% (range, 0-100) and 100% (range, 64-100), respectively. Latest CD4+ T-lymphocyte number was significantly lower in transplant survivors (n = 14) compared with posttransplant disease controls (P = .01). All survivors were off immunoglobulin replacement and had protective vaccine responses to tetanus and Haemophilus influenzae. None had any significant infection or autoimmunity. Changing transplant strategy in Great North Children's Hospital has significantly improved outcomes for MHC class II deficiency.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation in chronic granulomatous disease: a study of 712 children and adults.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency resulting in life-threatening infections and inflammatory complications. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) can cure the disease, but the indication to transplant remains controversial. We performed a retrospective multicenter study of 712 patients with CGD who underwent allo-HCT transplantation from March 1993 through December 2018. We studied 635 children (aged <18 years) and 77 adults. Median follow-up was 45 months. Median age at transplantation was 7 years (range, 0.1-48.6). Kaplan-Meier estimates of overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) at 3 years were 85.7% and 75.8%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, older age was associated with reduced survival and increased chronic graft-versus-host disease. Nevertheless, OS and EFS at 3 years for patients ≥18 years were 76% and 69%, respectively. Use of 1-antigen-mismatched donors was associated with reduced OS and EFS . No significant difference was found in OS, but a significantly reduced EFS was noted in the small group of patients who received a transplant from a donor with a >1 antigen mismatch. Choice of conditioning regimen did not influence OS or EFS. In summary, we report an excellent outcome after allo-HCT in CGD, with low incidence of graft failure and mortality in all ages. Older patients and recipients of 1-antigen-mismatched grafts had a less favorable outcome. Transplantation should be strongly considered at a younger age and particularly in the presence of a well-matched donor.

BCG lymphadenitis: a potential complication of immune reconstitution following haematopoietic stem cell transplant.

An MHC class II deficient 2-year-old boy presented with fever and an enlarging left neck mass 100 days post allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Fever persisted despite treatment with broad-spectrum ß-lactam antibiotics. His BCG vaccination site at presentation was quiescent. Ultrasound showed enlarged cervical lymph nodes. An incisional biopsy of the large nodal mass yielded acid-fast bacilli, identified as Mycobacterium bovis by genome sequencing. Treatment with rifampicin, isoniazid and pyridoxine was started. The mass suppurated (figure 1), before healing concurrently with T-lymphocyte reconstitution at approximately day 130 post-HSCT.

Stem cell transplantation as treatment for major histocompatibility class I deficiency.

Major histocompatibility class I deficiency, due to genetic lesions in TAP1, TAP2, TAPBP, or B2M, manifests with recurrent sinopulmonary infections and granulomatous skin ulceration, and is predominately treated with antimicrobial prophylaxis and chest physiotherapy. One previous report of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been described in the literature, demonstrating cure of the immune defect without significant graft-versus-host disease. In this report, we expand the literature on HSCT in MHC-I deficiency with follow-up of the original patient, demonstrating maintained resolution of normal immune function and regression of the granulomatous rash 15 years post-transplant, and describe a further patient with mycobacterial disease whose transplant course was complicated by severe graft-versus-host disease.

HSCT in two brothers with CGD arising from mutations in CYBC1 corrects the defect in neutrophil function.

Homozygous mutations in cytochrome b-245 chaperone 1 (CYBC1) have been recently described as causing recurrent infections and inflammatory disease in an Icelandic cohort and a patient from Saudi Arabia, by destabilising the dimerisation of gp91phox with p22phox, manifesting as phenotypic chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the treatment of choice in CGD, though experience of transplantation in this subtype of CGD is limited to a brief description in one patient. We provide clinical and transplant data for two Icelandic brothers with CGD due to homozygous p.Tyr2Ter mutations in CYBC1, demonstrating maintained cure of the immune defect 11 years post-transplant in one brother, and death in the peri-transplant period for the other.

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in paediatric rheumatic disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: A small proportion of children affected by rheumatic diseases suffer from severe, progressive disease, resistant to conventional antirheumatic therapies and to biologic agents interfering with inflammatory cytokines, costimulatory molecules expressed on immune system cells and intracellular signalling pathways. Adding to the poor prognosis is a high risk from significant morbidity and mortality associated with long-term treatment with multiple, often combined anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents. Carefully selected patients from this unfortunate group may benefit from treatment with haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. RECENT FINDINGS: The majority of patients with severe paediatric rheumatic and autoinflammatory diseases treated with autologous and/or allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation achieved long-term remission. However, the incidence of disease relapse and transplant related morbidity and mortality is still significant. SUMMARY: Careful patient and donor selection, timing of the transplant earlier in the course of disease rather than the 'last resort' and choosing the most suitable conditioning regimen for each individual patient are the major factors favouring successful outcome. Close co-operation between the patients, their family, and involved medical teams is essential.