Four decades of stem cell transplantation for Fanconi anaemia in the Netherlands.

This article presents the haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) results of the complete Dutch Fanconi anaemia (FA) patient cohort. Sixty-eight Dutch FA patients have been transplanted since 1972. In total, 63 (93%) patients engrafted, 54 after first SCT and 9 after second SCT. Fludarabine (FLU)-based conditioning was associated with decreased graft failure (odds ratio 0·21, P = 0·01), decreased early mortality (hazard ratio 0·25, P = 0·01) and improved 5-year overall survival (FLU 87·8% [standard error (SE) 5·1%] versus non-FLU 59·3% [SE 9·5%], P = 0·01). Late mortality was mainly caused by squamous cell carcinoma. Twenty-two patients were treated with the current Dutch FA conditioning regimen (FLU 150 mg/m(2) and cyclophosphamide 30 mg/kg ± anti-thymocyte globulin - no irradiation). Stem cell donors were matched related (n = 8) or alternative donors (n = 14). Stable engraftment after first SCT was achieved in 19 (86%) patients. At a median follow-up of 3·9 years 20 (91%) patients are alive. Our study provides a unique overview of a nation-wide SCT cohort illustrating the major improvements in treatment regimen and patient outcome in recent years. It shows that a non-irradiation and busulfan-free conditioning regimen can be used successfully, also in alternative donor SCT. Furthermore, it underlines the importance of late cancer screening and comprehensive care for this complex disorder.

Calcitriol for Oral Mucositis Prevention in Patients With Fanconi Anemia Undergoing Hematopoietic SCT: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Fanconi anemia is a rare inherited aplastic anemia, which is cured only by hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). One of the most debilitating complications of high-dose chemotherapy regimen before HSCT is oral mucositis (OM), which occurs frequently in this population. Vitamin D has identified immunoregulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant role. This study was designed to examine the efficacy of vitamin D in the prevention of OM in patients with Fanconi anemia undergoing allogenic HSCT. Twenty-eight patients were enrolled in the study. They received either calcitriol (0.025 µg) or placebo capsule once daily, from the first day of chemotherapy schedule for 14 consecutive days. Incidence of OM was assessed as the primary outcome. Moreover, the association of baseline vitamin D level with OM was evaluated. In this study, calcitriol did not change OM incidence (P = 1) and severity (P = 0.54) significantly; however, a significant association of baseline vitamin D level with OM complete resolution was found (P = 0.03; hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.01). In conclusion, we did not find considerable benefits of calcitriol in the prevention of OM. However, further studies with bigger sample size and different calcitriol supplementation schedules are needed to confirm these findings.

Endocrine disorders in Fanconi anemia: recommendations for screening and treatment.

CONTEXT: Endocrine problems are common in patients with Fanconi anemia (FA). About 80% of children and adults with FA have at least one endocrine abnormality, including short stature, GH deficiency, abnormal glucose or insulin metabolism, dyslipidemia, hypothyroidism, pubertal delay, hypogonadism, or impaired fertility. The goal of this report is to provide an overview of endocrine abnormalities and guidelines for routine screening and treatment to allow early diagnosis and timely intervention. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: This work is based on a comprehensive literature review, including relevant articles published between 1971 and 2014, and proceedings of a Consensus Conference held by the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund in 2013. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: The panel of experts collected published evidence and discussed its relevance to reflect current information about the endocrine care of children and adults with FA before the Consensus Conference and through subsequent deliberations that led to the consensus. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with FA should be routinely screened for endocrine abnormalities, including evaluation of growth; glucose, insulin, and lipid metabolism; thyroid function; puberty; gonadal function; and bone mineral metabolism. Inclusion of an endocrinologist as part of the multidisciplinary patient care team is key to providing comprehensive care for patients with FA.

Hyperbaric oxygen should not be used in the management of hemorrhagic cystitis in patients with Fanconi anemia.

Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a common complication after stem cell transplantation (SCT) that occurs more frequently in patients with Fanconi anemia (FA) because of hypersensitivity of their cells to the agents used in the preparation for SCT (chemo and radiation). Many HC cases respond to therapy with hyperhydration and maintenance of adequate platelet counts, but refractory cases may require additional measures such as the use of prostaglandins, alum, or hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). We report here an unusual complication to HBO therapy in a FA patient consisting of generalized edema mimicking capillary leak syndrome but with no pulmonary edema or ascites.

Unexpected complications after bone marrow transplantation in transfusion-dependent children.

Ten patients on transfusion-chelation programs were treated with bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The busulfan-cyclophosphamide conditioning regimen was inadequate in the 6 beta thalassemia major patients, resulting in marrow rejection problems for 3. Post BMT one patient remains with thalassemia major and two have mixed chimerism with a clinical status of thalassemia intermedia. Three patients have thalassemia minor from their donors, but one required a second BMT to achieve this state. Two of the four Diamond Blackfan Syndrome patients died of BMT-related complications. Two achieved normal hematopoiesis, one at the price of chronic graft vs host disease. Because of the excellent results of iron chelation in our patients, we question whether such patients with access to the state of the art transfusion-chelation programs should continue to be transplanted. This situation requires continuing evaluation.

[Blackfan-Diamond disease and malignancy: cause effect relationships?]. / Maladie de Blackfan-Diamond et malignité: relations de cause à effet?

The authors report on a 24-year old patient with Blackfan-Diamond syndrome who developed a Hodgkin's disease. This patient became transfusion-dependent at the age of 10, after an initial period of corticosensitivity, and after failure of androgens. He developed hemochromatosis despite from parenteral chelation therapy. He died of infectious complications 4 months after the diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma. A review of the literature shows an increased incidence of malignancies in Blackfan-Diamond syndrome (three cases of leukemia), and in similar disease (thalassemia and sickle cell disease), but not in other patients with hemosiderosis (primitive hemochromatosis, end-stage renal failure under dialysis). Etiopathogenic hypotheses are discussed.

[Rare indications for iron chelation therapy with desferrioxamine]. / Seltene Indikationen für eine eisenausschleusende Therapie mit Desferrioxamin.

In beta thalassaemia patients the subcutaneous desferrioxamine chelation therapy is performed routinely. Rare indications are hypoplastic anaemia, congenital dyserythropoetic anaemia and Fanconi anaemia. We initiated the chelation agent in three patients with the above mentioned diagnoses. The beginning of treatment in hypoplastic anaemia depends upon the quantity of red cell transfusions, whereas in dysterythropoetic anaemia the increased intestinal iron absorption has to be taken into consideration. Aim of the therapy is a negative iron balance. The evaluation of the iron balance is relatively simple. The girl with hypoplastic anaemia has been treated for 1.5 years. Within this time she received 11,680 mg iron by blood transfusions. The urinary iron output was 7112 mg. Depending on the analyzing method, the mean fecal iron excretion amounts 36.5% or 61% of the global excretion. Laboratory findings and clinical course are in favour to the aimed negative iron balance in two patients.