High Prevalence of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in Acute Liver Failure of Infancy.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) syndrome in pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) of infancy and assess the diagnostic role of rapid immunologic tests, genotype/phenotype correlations, and clinical outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively analyzed 78 children with PALF aged <24 months referred over almost 2 decades. The studied patients with a phenotype of HLH syndrome had a comprehensive immunologic workup, including additional genetic analysis for primary immunologic causes. RESULTS: Thirty of the 78 children had the HLH phenotype and underwent genetic assessment, which demonstrated positive findings in 19 (63.3%), including 9 (30%) with biallelic primary HLH mutations and 10 (33.3%) with heterozygous mutations and/or polymorphisms. The most common form of primary HLH was familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL)-2, diagnosed in 6 children, 4 of whom had a c.50delT (p.Leu17ArgfsTer34) mutation in the PRF1 gene. Three patients with primary HLH received genetic diagnoses of FHL-3, Griscelli syndrome, and LRBA (lipopolysaccharide-responsive vesicle trafficking, beach- and anchor-containing) protein deficiency. Overall mortality in the series was 52.6% (10 of 19), and mortality in children with a documented biallelic pathogenic HLH mutation (ie, primary HLH) was 66.6% (6 of 9). Two children underwent liver transplantation, and 4 children underwent emergency hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; all but 1 child survived medium term. CONCLUSIONS: Primary HLH can be diagnosed retrospectively in approximately one-third of infants with indeterminate PALF (iPALF) who meet the clinical criteria for HLH, often leading to their death. The most common HLH type in iPALF is FHL-2, caused by biallelic mutations in PRF-1. The clinical relevance of observed heterozygous mutations and variants of uncertain significance requires further investigation. Prompt hematopoietic stem cell transplantation could be life-saving in infants who survive the liver injury.

Hepatitis C Screening and Treatment Program in Hungarian Prisons in the Era of Direct Acting Antiviral Agents.

A hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening and treatment program was conducted in Hungarian prisons on a voluntary basis. After HCV-RNA testing and genotyping for anti-HCV positives, treatments with direct-acting antiviral agents were commenced by hepatologists who visited the institutions monthly. Patients were supervised by the prisons' medical staff. Data were retrospectively collected from the Hungarian Hepatitis Treatment Registry, from the Health Registry of Prisons, and from participating hepatologists. Eighty-four percent of Hungarian prisons participated, meaning a total of 5779 individuals (28% of the inmate population) underwent screening. HCV-RNA positivity was confirmed in 317/5779 cases (5.49%); 261/317 (82.3%) started treatment. Ninety-nine percent of them admitted previous intravenous drug use. So far, 220 patients received full treatment and 41 patients are still on treatment. Based on the available end of treatment (EOT) + 24 weeks timepoint data, per protocol sustained virologic response rate was 96.8%. In conclusion, the Hungarian prison screening and treatment program, with the active participation of hepatologists and the prisons' medical staff, is a well-functioning model. Through the Hungarian experience, we emphasize that the "test-and-treat" principle is feasible and effective at micro-eliminating HCV in prisons, where infection rate, as well as history of intravenous drug usage, are high.

Non-malignant, non-infectious lymphoproliferation: challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome / Nem malignus, nem infectiosus lymphoproliferatio: kihívások az autoimmun lymphoproliferativ szindróma diagnosztikájában és kezelésében.

Összefoglaló. Az autoimmun lymphoproliferativ szindróma egy ritka, immundeficientiával járó genetikai betegség. Hátterében az extrinszik apoptotikus útvonal génjeinek örökletes vagy szerzett mutációi és a következményesen kialakuló, aktivált lymphocyták negatív szelekciójának a defektusa áll. Az autoimmun lymphoproliferativ szindróma klinikai megjelenésére jellemzo a jóindulatú lymphocytaburjánzás következtében kialakuló lymphadenopathia és lépmegnagyobbodás. Gyakran társul olyan autoimmun kórképekkel, mint az autoimmun haemolyticus anaemia vagy az autoimmun thrombocytopenia. A betegségben jellemzo laboratóriumi eltérések a következok: az αß+ CD4-/CD8- kettos negatív T-sejtek szaporulata, a szolúbilis Fas-ligand, az interleukin-10 és interleukin-18, valamint a B12-vitamin szérumszintjének emelkedése. A kórkép diagnózisához hozzátartozik az in vitro Fas-mediált apoptózis funkciójának vizsgálata, valamint a genetikai vizsgálat. Differenciáldiagnosztikai szempontból fontos elkülöníteni a lymphomáktól, valamint az autoimmun lymphoproliferativ szindrómaszeru betegségektol. A kezelés alapja a társuló autoimmun kórképek tüneteinek csökkentése immunszuppresszív terápiával. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(4): 123-131. Summary. The autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome is a rare genetic disorder causing immunodeficiency. In the background of the disease, germline or somatic mutations of genes participating in the extrinsic apoptotic pathway and the consequential defect in the negative selection of activated lymphocytes were discovered. The clinical appearance of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome consists of non-malignant lymphoproliferation, lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, it is frequently accompanied by autoimmune disorders such as autoimmune haemolytic anaemia or autoimmune thrombocytopenia. The main diagnostic laboratory findings of this disease are the following: an elevation in αß+, CD4-/CD8- double-negative T cell count, elevated serum levels of soluble Fas-ligand, interleukin-10, interleukin-18 and vitamin B12. Other useful laboratory tests are the in vitro Fas-mediated apoptotic functional assay and the genetic screening for gene mutations. Differential diagnosis should exclude malignant lymphoproliferation in lymphomas and non-malignant autoimmune lymphoprolipherative syndrome-like diseases. The main aim of the treatment is the amelioration of the accompanying autoimmune disease with immunosuppressive therapy. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(4): 123-131.

Key diagnostic markers for autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome with molecular genetic diagnosis.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare immunodeficiency caused by mutations in genes affecting the extrinsic apoptotic pathway (FAS, FASL, CASP10). This study evaluated the clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and molecular genetic results of 215 patients referred as possibly having ALPS. Double-negative T-cell (DNT) percentage and in vitro apoptosis functional tests were evaluated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting; interleukin 10 (IL-10) and IL-18 and soluble FAS ligand (sFASL) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Genetic analysis was performed by next-generation sequencing. Clinical background data were collected from patients' records. Patients were categorized into definite, suspected, or unlikely ALPS groups, and laboratory parameters were compared among these groups. Of 215 patients, 38 met the criteria for definite ALPS and 17 for suspected ALPS. The definite and suspected ALPS patient populations showed higher DNT percentages than unlikely ALPS and had higher rates of lymphoproliferation. Definite ALPS patients had a significantly more abnormal in vitro apoptosis function, with lower annexin, than patients with suspected ALPS (P = .002) and patients not meeting ALPS criteria (P < .001). The combination of elevated DNTs and an abnormal in vitro apoptosis functional test was the most useful in identifying all types of ALPS patients; the combination of an abnormal in vitro apoptosis functional test and elevated sFASLs was a predictive marker for ALPS-FAS group identification. Lymphoproliferation, apoptosis functional test, and DNTs are the most sensitive markers; elevated IL-10 and IL-18 are additional indicators for ALPS. The combination of elevated sFASLs and abnormal apoptosis function was the most valuable prognosticator for patients with FAS mutations.