The Aplastic Crisis in HbSS: Observations from the Jamaican Birth Cohort.

In order to document the prevalence, clinical features, hematology and outcome of the aplastic crisis in homozygous sickle cell disease (HbSS), a cohort study has been conducted from birth. Newborn screening of 100 000 deliveries at the main government maternity hospital, Kingston, Jamaica between 1973 and 1981 detected 311 cases of HbSS who have been followed at the Medical Research Council Laboratories at the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. Clinically defined aplastic crises occurred in 118 (38%) patients at a median age of 7.5 years (range 0.5-23.0 years). All but one event seroconverted to parvovirus B19, the exception being a 9.3 year male with classic aplasia but subsequent IgG did not exceed 3 IU. Defined by zero reticulocyte counts, 94 patients presented with a median hemoglobin of 3.7 g/dL (range 18-87 g/L) representing a median fall from steady state levels of 3.8 g/dL. Clear epidemic peaks occurred at 1979-1980, 1984-1986, and 1990-1993 and the admission rate and use of blood cultures fell with each epidemic, reflecting increased familiarity with the complication. Symptoms were usually nonspecific and all but 7 were transfused. No patient had a recurrence and two died from aplasia (one with remote rural residence and the other following an incorrect diagnosis). Of those seroconverting to parvovirus B19, 68% manifested aplasia and 24% had no hematologic change. Correctly diagnosed and managed, the aplastic crisis is essentially benign. (230 words).

Progress in medical therapy in aplastic anemia: why it took so long?

The treatment of aplastic anemia (AA) has significantly advanced in the last 50 years, evolving from a fatal condition to one where survival rates now exceed 80-85%. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and immunosuppressive therapy (IST) have become the primary treatments, with the latter widely adopted due to factors like the scarcity of compatible donors, patient age, comorbidities, and limited HSCT access. A therapy breakthrough was the introduction of antithymocyte globulin (ATG), with its effectiveness further boosted by cyclosporine. However, it took years to achieve another major milestone in management. Initially, treatments aimed to intensify immunosuppression following the success of the ATG-cyclosporine combination, but these methods fell short of expectations. A major turning point was combining immunosuppression with stem cell stimulation, surpassing the efficacy of IST alone. Earlier, growth factors had shown limited success in AA treatment, but thrombopoietin receptor agonists represented a significant advancement. Initially applied alone as salvage, these were later combined with IST, forming the most effective current regimen for medically managing SAA. Horse ATG is the preferred formulation combined with cyclosporine and eltrombopag. This progress in AA treatment offers improved outcomes for patients afflicted with this once-lethal disease.

The future of aplastic anemia treatment in Brazil: Lessons learned for global hematology.

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare serious hematologic disorder caused by hematopoietic stem cell failure in maintaining hematopoiesis. AA is virtually fatal if not treated, and diagnosis and therapy require extensive hematologic infrastructure. Academic medical centers in Brazil have continuously and significantly contributed to diagnostic tools and therapy development, from novel transplant strategies to drug combinations and implementation science in the national public health system. In the present review, we discuss how the collaborative effort among academic centers in hematology has contributed to improving health care for patients with aplastic anemia. We also discuss what needs are still unmet and how to overcome these challenges.

Rehmannia Glutinosa Polysaccharide Regulates Bone Marrow Microenvironment via HIF-1α/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Aplastic Anemia Mice.

Aplastic anemia (AA), a rare disorder, is associated with bone marrow microenvironment (BMM). Presently, AA treatment is of great difficulty. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of action of Rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharide (RGP) in AA. Busulfan was used to induce AA in BALB/c mice; blood cell count and Ray's Giemsa staining were used to assess the severity of hematopoietic failure; HE was performed to assess the pathological state of the marrow cavity; ELISA was performed to assess IL-4, IL-10, IL-6, IL-12, IL-1ß, TNF-α, MCP-1, VEGF, and EPO; and WB was performed to evaluate the effects of RGP on the HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling. Significant downregulation of hemocyte levels in the blood and nucleated cells in the bone marrow was reversed by RGP and Cyclosporine A (CA). Compared with the AA group, dilating blood sinusoids, inflammation, hematopoiesis, decreased bone marrow cells and megakaryocytes were alleviated by RGP and CA, and the HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling was inhibited too. Notably, RGP was more effective when used in combination with CA. In this study, we established a relationship between BMM and the HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling pathway and found that RGP regulates BMM by suppressing the activation of the HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling. Thus, RGP exerts a pharmacological effect on AA.

Infecciones fúngicas invasoras en niños con cáncer y portadores de aplasia medular severa en nueve hospitales de la red PINDA, Chile. 2016-2020 / Invasive fungal infections in children with cancer and severe aplastic anemia in nine hospitals from PINDA Network, Chile. 2016-2020

INTRODUCCIÓN: La infección fúngica invasora (IFI) es una causa importante de morbilidad y mortalidad en pacientes oncológicos pediátricos y portadores de aplasia medular (AM) severa. OBJETIVO: Describir la epidemiología de la IFI desde el año 2016 al 2020 en niños con cáncer y AM para evaluar la necesidad de profilaxis antifúngica. MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo, multicéntrico, en pacientes pediátricos con cáncer y AM severa. Se incluyeron IFI probables y probadas. RESULTADOS: Se diagnosticaron 57 casos de IFI, mediana de edad 9 años, 70% probadas y 30% probables. Hubo 42% de infecciones por levaduras y 56% por hongos filamentosos. Los sitios de infección más frecuentes fueron pulmón 38%, sangre 36% y rinosinusal 21%. La frecuencia global fue 5,4%; de ellas 21% en AM severa, 10% en leucemia mieloide aguda (LMA), 6,9% en recaída de LMA, 5,4% en recaída de leucemia linfática aguda (LLA), 3,8% en LLA. Las infecciones por hongos filamentosos predominaron en LMA, recaída de LMA. y AM severa. La mortalidad en pacientes con IFI fue de 11%. CONCLUSIÓN: La frecuencia de IFI concuerda con la literatura médica. Recomendamos profilaxis antifúngica contra hongos filamentosos en pacientes con AM severa, LMA y recaída de LMA. Considerar en recaída de LLA de alto riesgo en etapa de inducción.

BACKGROUND: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric oncology patients and severe aplastic anemia (SAA). AIM: To describe the epidemiology of IFI from 2016 to 2020 in children with cancer and SAA to assess the indication of antifungal prophylaxis. METHODS: Multicenter, retrospective study of IFIs in pediatric oncology patients and SAA. Probable and proven IFIs were included. RESULTS: Over the 5-year period, 57 IFIs were found, median age 9 years, 70% were proven and 30% were probable. Yeast infections were 42% and mold infections 56%. The most frequent infection sites were lung 38%, blood 36% and rhinosinusal 21%. The total IFI frequency was 5.4%, 21% in SAA, 10% in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 6.9% in relapsed AML, 5.4% in relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 3.8% in ALL. Mold infections were predominant in AML, relapsed AML, and SAA. IFIs mortality was 11%. CONCLUSION: Frequency of IFI was consistent with the literature. We strongly recommend antifungal prophylaxis against mold infections in patients with SAA, AML, and relapsed AML. Would consider in high risk ALL relapse in induction chemotherapy.

Characteristics of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria patients in Brazil: A retrospective administrative claims database analysis of PNH patients in Brazilian public healthcare system.

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have reported the profile of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and their care in the Brazilian health system. OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with PNH in the Brazilian public health system including procedures performed, associated comorbidities and visits to health care professionals. METHODS: In a real-world observational, retrospective, population-based cohort study, anonymized secondary data provided by the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System (DATASUS) were analyzed. Patients were considered eligible if they had at least one procedure coded with the ICD-10 code D59.5 from January 1, 2008 to December 30, 2018. RESULTS: In total, 675 individual PNH patients were identified (52.4% female; prevalence of 1:237,000 people). Around 15.8% of the patients included had myelodysplastic syndrome and about half of the sample had other aplastic anemias and/or other bone marrow failure syndromes. Portal vein thrombosis (I82 ICD code) was reported in 4.3% of patients. Regarding hospitalizations, 263 individual PNH patients had 416 inpatient admissions with the ICD code for PNH (D59.5) on admission. Twelve deaths occurred during the study period, of which two had the PNH ICD code related with the cause of death, while another three deaths were associated with acquired hemolytic anemia (D59.9), unspecified aplastic anemia (D61.9) and acute respiratory failure (J96.0), respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite its limitations, this statistical analysis of data extracted from DATASUS reasonably describes PNH patients in Brazil and its variations across different regions of the country. Comorbidities frequently associated with PNH such as portal vein thrombosis were not as common in our study, but it is assumed that several thrombotic events at specific sites were coded under the broader I82 ICD code. The frequency of visits to different health professionals, including hematologists, increased after the diagnosis of PNH. Among hospitalized PNH patients, the mortality rate was 4.5%.

Anemia aplásica: un nuevo reto farmacológico en la práctica clínica / Aplastic anemia: a new pharmacological challenge in clinical practice

Introducción: la anemia aplásica (AA) es una enfermedad poco frecuente, caracterizada por presentar una insuficiencia en la médula ósea y una pancitopenia, sin rastro de procesos mieloproliferativos o fibróticos. Objetivo: conocer los diversos tratamientos farmacológicos usados en la terapia inmunosupresora (IST) en la AA; adicionalmente, se profundizará en la respuesta de los pacientes frente a la IST y los mecanismos de acción de los fármacos utilizados. Metodología: se realizó una búsqueda sistemática en las bases de datos de literatura médica como PUBMED, British Medical Journal, New England Journal, entre otros. Se incluyeron artículos tanto en inglés como en español. Conclusiones: el manejo de la anemia aplásica continúa representando un reto para la medicina moderna; no obstante, se ha desarrollado un gran número de nuevas opciones terapéuticas para tratar a los pacientes.

Introduction: Aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare disease characterized by presenting bone marrow failure and pancytopenia, with no trace of myeloproliferative or fibrotic processes. Objective: To present the different pharmacological treatments used in immunosuppressive therapy (IST) in AA, in addition, the response of patients to IST and the mechanisms of action of the drugs used will be studied in depth. Methodology: A systematic search was carried out in medical literature databases such as PUBMED, British Medical Journal, New England Journal, among others. Articles in both English and Spanish were included. Conclusions: The management of aplastic anemia continues to represent a challenge for modern medicine; however, a large number of new therapeutic options have been developed to treat patients.

Infección fúngica invasiva por Saprochaete capitata en un niño con aplasia medular / Invasive fungal infection by Saprochaete capitata in a child with bone marrow aplasia

RESUMEN Saprochaete capitata es una causa rara de infección fúngica invasiva en pacientes inmunocomprometidos con alta mortalidad y resistencia antifúngica. Presentamos el caso de un niño de cinco años con diagnóstico de aplasia medular, sometido a trasplante de progenitores hematopoyéticos (TPH), que cursó con neutropenia febril persistente, dolor abdominal intenso, aparición de lesiones maculopapulares en piel y deterioro de la función renal. Se identificó la presencia de S. capitata, en hemocultivos transcatéter venoso central. Esta infección fúngica invasiva resulta ser rara, pero emergente y potencialmente mortal, en pacientes con neutropenia febril persistente y uso prolongado de dispositivos invasivos intravasculares como catéter venoso central.

ABSTRACT Saprochaete capitata is a rare cause of invasive fungal infection in immunocompromised patients with high mortality and antifungal resistance. We present the case of a 5-year-old boy with bone marrow aplasia, who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and presented persistent febrile neutropenia, abdominal pain, appearance of maculopapular lesions on the skin, and impaired renal function. The presence of S. capitata was identified by blood culture from a central venous catheter. This invasive fungal infection is rare but emergent and life-threatening, especially in immunocompromised patients with persistent febrile neutropenia and prolonged use of invasive devices such as central venous catheters.

Therapeutic Potential of Human Immature Dental Pulp Stem Cells Observed in Mouse Model for Acquired Aplastic Anemia.

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare and serious disorder of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that results in the loss of blood cells due to the failure of the bone marrow (BM). Although BM transplantation is used to treat AA, its use is limited by donor availability. In this sense, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can offer a novel therapeutic approach for AA. This is because the MSCs contribute to the hematopoietic niche organization through their repopulating. In our study, we used the human immature dental pulp stem cell (hIDPSC), an MSC-like cell, to explore an alternative therapeutic approach for AA. For this, isogenic C57BL/6 mice were exposed to total body irradiation (TBI) to induce the AA. After 48 h of TBI, the mice were intraperitoneally treated with hIDPSC. The immunohistochemistry analyses confirmed that the hIDPSCs migrated and grafted in the mouse bone marrow (BM) and spleen, providing rapid support to hematopoiesis recovery compared to the group exposed to radiation, but not to those treated with the cells as well as the hematological parameters. Six months after the last hIDPSC transplantation, the BM showed long-term stable hematopoiesis. Our data highlight the therapeutic plasticity and hematoprotective role of hIDPSC for AA and potentially for other hematopoietic failures.

[Hepatitis associated aplastic anemia during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic]. / Anemia aplásica asociada a hepatitis durante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2.

The hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia is one of the acquired bone marrow failure syndromes. It is a stereotyped form of presentation of aplastic anemia and accounts for 2 - 5 % of the cases in the West. Its treatment, which does not differ from that of aplastic anemia, consists of immunosuppression when bone marrow transplant is not possible. Nonetheless, during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, recommendations restricting the use of antithymocyte globulin to those cases with the highest risk of death have been issued, since the prognosis of CoViD-19 tends to be worse if administered. We present an otherwise-healthy 18-year-old male who was diagnosed with a hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia and received a personalized treatment following these recommendations.

La anemia aplásica asociada a hepatitis es uno de los síndromes de fallo medular adquirido. Es una forma estereotipada de presentación de la anemia aplásica adquirida y representa el 2 - 5 % de los casos en occidente. Su tratamiento, que no difiere del de la anemia aplásica adquirida, consiste en inmunosupresión cuando el trasplante de células progenitoras hematopoyéticas no es posible. Sin embargo, durante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 se han publicado recomendaciones mediante las cuales se restringe el uso de globulina antitimocítica para aquellos casos con riesgo de muerte porque el pronóstico de la CoViD-19 tiende a ser peor con su uso. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 18 años previamente sano a quien se le diagnosticó una anemia aplásica asociada a hepatitis y se le personalizó el tratamiento acorde a estas recomendaciones.

Ampliação de uso do eltrombopague para o tratamento adicional a imunossupressor em pacientes adultos com anemia aplástica grave / Expansion of use of eltrombopague for the Additional immunosuppressive treatment in adult patients with severe aplastic anemia

INTRODUÇÃO: A anemia aplástica (AA) é uma doença rara e com risco de vida devido à falha herdada ou adquirida da medula óssea para produzir células sanguíneas, levando à pancitopenia progressiva. O tratamento para AA é determinado por uma série de fatores, incluindo gravidade da pancitopenia, idade do paciente, disponibilidade de doadores de célulastronco hematopoética, fonte de célula-tronco hematopoética, disponibilidade de imunossupressão e acesso a terapias ideais. Eltrombopague, um agonista de trombopoietina (TPO) vem emergindo como uma opção de tratamento para AA grave associado a terapia imunossupressora padrão. INDICAÇÃO: Pacientes adultos com anemia aplástica grave. PERGUNTA: Eltrombopague associado à terapia imunossupressora padrão (imunoglobulina antitimócito [ATG] e ciclosporina) é eficaz, seguro e custo-efetivo no tratamento de pacientes adultos com AA grave, quando comparado à terapia imunossupressora padrão (ATG e ciclosporina) isolada no SUS? EVIDÊNCIAS CLÍNICAS: A partir de uma busca bibliográfica conduzida nas bases PubMed, EMBASE e Cochrane Reviews, um ensaio clínico randomizado (ECR) foi selecionado, fornecendo evidências sobre a eficácia e segurança do eltrombopague adicionado ao tratamento imunossupressor em pacientes adultos com AA grave. Os pacientes apresentaram uma resposta completa em três meses de 10% no Grupo A (controle) e 22% no Grupo B (intervenção) (OR: 3,2; IC 95%, 1,3 a 7,8; P=0,01). Aos seis meses, a taxa de resposta geral foi de 41% no Grupo A e 68% no Grupo B. Os tempos médios para a primeira resposta foram de 8,8 meses (Grupo A) e 3,0 meses (Grupo B). A adição de eltrombopague à terapia imunossupressora padrão não resultou em melhora significativa da sobrevida global. A taxa de sobrevida global em dois anos foi de 85% (IC95%:78 a 92) para o grupo controle e de 90% (IC95%: 82 a 97) para o grupo intervenção. No entanto, o eltrombopague adicionado à terapia imunossupressora padrão aumentou a sobrevida livre de eventos de 34% para 46% em dois anos por meio da redução da refratariedade inicial à imunossupressão. A incidência de eventos adversos graves foi semelhante nos dois grupos. Para os desfechos resposta hematológica, sobrevida global, sobrevida livre de eventos, qualidade de vida e eventos adversos, considerou-se moderada qualidade de evidência pelo GRADE. AVALIAÇÃO ECONÔMICA: Na análise de custo-efetividade, empregando árvore de decisão e considerando-se o desfecho Taxa de Resposta Global, comparou-se o tratamento padrão (TP) versus a adição de eltrombopague ao TP, em um horizonte temporal de um ano. Ao demonstrar menor custo e maior efetividade, eltrombopague + TP se mostrou custo-efetiva no tratamento da AAG em pacientes não elegíveis ao TCTH, considerando-se a RCEI de - R$ 287.140,99. Na análise de sensibilidade, variando-se os custos de ATG e de eltrombopague, os resultados mostraram-se estáveis nos cenários avaliados, continuando a demonstrar que a adição de eltrombopague ao TP é custo-efetiva. ANÁLISE DE IMPACTO ORÇAMENTÁRIO: Avaliando-se três cenários diferentes em cinco anos, e considerando uma abordagem epidemiológica e demanda aferida (dispensações de ciclosporina para AA no SUS), a ampliação de uso do eltrombopague pode gerar economia de recursos de até R$ 241,2 milhões, ou seja, 12% menor do que o valor gasto no cenário de referência. Entretanto, nos cenários que se pressupõe menor uso do eltrombopague, a economia de recursos é menor. No cenário 2 o impacto orçamentário incremental é de - R$ 188,59 milhões e no cenário 3 é de - R$ 134 milhões. MONITORAMENTO DO HORIZONTE TECNOLÓGICO: Foi detectada uma tecnologia para compor o tratamento adicional a imunossupressor em pacientes adultos com AAG. Trata-se do hetrombopag, um agonista do receptor de trombopoetina, mesmo mecanismo de ação da tecnologia em avaliação neste relatório, encontrando-se em fase 3 de pesquisa clínica, e sem registro para qualquer indicação na Anvisa, FDA ou EMA. CONSIDERAÇÕES FINAIS: A AA é uma doença rara e frequentemente grave ou muito grave e que até o momento, não dispunha de um tratamento clínico com resultados satisfatórios, cenário esse que perdura por mais de 30 anos. No presente relatório, é apresentado um ECR multicêntrico, com moderada qualidade de evidência, recentemente publicado e com um número expressivo de pacientes, considerando-se a raridade da doença e que trouxe resultados significativamente superiores, quando comparado ao tratamento padrão isolado em praticamente todos os desfechos avaliados, além de perfil de seguração comparável ao tratamento atual. Na avaliação econômica, a adição de eltrombopague ao tratamento padrão trouxe vantagens clínicas e econômicas, mostrando ser custo-efetiva. Assim também, na análise de impacto orçamentário, a ampliação de seu uso, considerando-se que a tecnologia já está incorporada no SUS para o tratamento de TPI, trouxe economia de recursos em todos os cenários avaliados. RECOMENDAÇÃO PRELIMINAR DA CONITEC: No dia 09 de março de 2022, em sua 106ª Reunião Ordinária, os membros da Conitec deliberaram que a matéria fosse disponibilizada em consulta pública com recomendação preliminar favorável à ampliação de uso do eltrombopague para o tratamento adicional a imunossupressor em pacientes adultos com anemia aplástica grave. Considerou-se que as evidências apresentadas demonstraram eficácia e segurança acerca do tratamento proposto frente às alternativas terapêuticas já disponíveis no SUS, além de ser custo-efetivo e apresentar economia de recursos para o SUS. CONSULTA PÚBLICA: Foi realizada no período de 04/04/2022 a 25/04/2022. Foram recebidas 51 contribuições, sendo 21 pelo formulário técnico-científico e 30 pelo formulário sobre experiência ou opinião. Todas as contribuições recebidas concordaram com a recomendação preliminar da Conitec, sendo favoráveis à ampliação de uso da tecnologia. Assim, o entendimento da Conitec não foi alterado. RECOMENDAÇÃO FINAL DA CONITEC: Diante do exposto, os membros do Plenário da Conitec, em sua 108ª Reunião Ordinária, no dia 05 de maio de 2022, deliberaram por unanimidade recomendar a ampliação de uso do eltrombopague para o tratamento adicional a imunossupressor em pacientes adultos com anemia aplástica grave. Por fim, foi assinado o Registro de Deliberação nº 728/2022. DECISÃO: Ampliar o uso do eltrombopague para o tratamento adicional a imunossupressor em pacientes adultos com anemia aplástica grave, no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS conforme a Portaria nº 47, publicada no Diário Oficial da União nº 105, seção 1, página 78, em 3 de junho de 2022.

Defective hematopoietic differentiation of immune aplastic anemia patient-derived iPSCs.

In acquired immune aplastic anemia (AA), pathogenic cytotoxic Th1 cells are activated and expanded, driving an immune response against the hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) that provokes cell depletion and causes bone marrow failure. However, additional HSPC defects may contribute to hematopoietic failure, reflecting on disease outcomes and response to immunosuppression. Here we derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from peripheral blood (PB) erythroblasts obtained from patients diagnosed with immune AA using non-integrating plasmids to model the disease. Erythroblasts were harvested after hematologic response to immunosuppression was achieved. Patients were screened for germline pathogenic variants in bone marrow failure-related genes and no variant was identified. Reprogramming was equally successful for erythroblasts collected from the three immune AA patients and the three healthy subjects. However, the hematopoietic differentiation potential of AA-iPSCs was significantly reduced both quantitatively and qualitatively as compared to healthy-iPSCs, reliably recapitulating disease: differentiation appeared to be more severely affected in cells from the two patients with partial response as compared to the one patient with complete response. Telomere elongation and the telomerase machinery were preserved during reprogramming and differentiation in all AA-iPSCs. Our results indicate that iPSCs are a reliable platform to model immune AA and recapitulate clinical phenotypes. We propose that the immune attack may cause specific epigenetic changes in the HSPCs that limit adequate proliferation and differentiation.

The spectrum of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria clinical presentation in a Brazilian single referral center.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare hematological disorder caused by the expansion of a hematopoietic clone harboring a somatic genetic variant in the PIG-A gene translating into a wide spectrum of clinical and laboratory changes, from intravascular hemolysis, thrombosis, and bone marrow failure to subclinical presentation. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed 87 consecutive cases (39 women; median follow-up, 18 months; range, 0-151 months) in whom a PNH clone was detected by flow cytometry between 2006 and 2019 seen at a single Brazilian referral center. The median age at diagnosis was 29 years (range, 8 to 83 years); 29 patients (33%) were initially classified as PNH/bone marrow failure, 13 (15%) as classic PNH, and 45 (52%) as subclinical PNH. The median overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort was not reached during follow-up, without significant differences between groups. At diagnosis, the median PNH clone size was 2.8% (range, 0 to 65%) in erythrocytes and 5.4% (range, 0 to 80%) in neutrophils. Fourteen patients experienced clone expansion during follow-up; in other 14 patients the clone disappeared, and in 18 patients it remained stable throughout the follow-up. A subclinical PNH clone was detected in three telomeropathy patients at diagnosis, but it was persistent and confirmed by DNA sequencing in only one case. In conclusion, PNH presentation was variable, and most patients had subclinical disease or associated with marrow failure and did not require specific anticomplement therapy. Clone size was stable or even disappeared in most cases.

Fisioterapia durante o transplante de células tronco hematopoiéticas alogênico para o tratamento de anemia aplásica: um relato de caso considerado raro / Physical therapy during allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for the treatment of aplastic anemia: a rare clinical case

Introdução: A anemia aplásica (AA) é uma condição clínica considerada rara que se desenvolve a partir da disfunção hematopoiética da medula óssea. O tratamento indicado é o transplante de células tronco hematopoiéticas (TCHP). Objetivo: Descrever o caso clínico e as estratégias utilizadas pela fisioterapia durante o processo de reabilitação física. Métodos: Trata-se de estudo de caso, realizado com paciente do sexo feminino, 34 anos de idade e diagnóstico de AA severa. Após avaliação clínica foi indicado o TCHP alogênico de um doador aparentado que apresentou compatibilidade histo-imunológica. O tempo total de internação hospitalar foi de 35 dias. Os objetivos da reabilitação física foram o de manter a ventilação pulmonar, prevenir o acúmulo de secreção, minimizar a progressão da fadiga, perda de força e resistência muscular. Resultados: A estratégia utilizada para contornar a extrema fragilidade hematológica e as implicações clínicas decorrentes evitou perda expressiva no desempenho no teste de caminhada de seis minutos (-10%) ao final da internação. Conclusão: Foi um verdadeiro desafio a implementação da reabilitação física durante o TCHP para o tratamento da AA, mas a estratégia adotada demonstrou-se segura, bem tolerada e suficiente para evitar maiores prejuízos no estado funcional. (AU)

Microangiopatia trombótica após transplante haploidêntico de medula óssea em paciente pediátrico / [Thrombotic microangiopathy after haploidentical bone marrow transplantation in a pediatric patient]

O transplante alogênico é o único tratamento curativo para a anemia aplástica grave, entretanto diversas complicações podem ocorrer após o transplante, dentre elas, há a microangiopatia trombótica associada ao transplante (MAT-AT). Uma complicação que pode ser fatal quando não houver a suspeita clínica e as devidas medidas realizadas precocemente. A apresentação clínica mais comum é a tríade: hipertensão, trombocitopenia (ou refratariedade à transfusão de plaquetas) e LDH elevado. Sua incidência é ampla, devido a grande variedade de apresentação clínica. Relato de caso: Paciente de 15 anos com anemia aplástica grave submetido ao transplante haploidêntico materno de medula óssea, evoluindo com complicações graves após o TMO, diversas infeções, doença enxerto contra hospedeiro aguda e microangiopatia associada ao transplante. Paciente tratado com êxito através da suspensão dos inibidores de calcineurinas e rituximab. No último follow-up, paciente com 14 meses pós-transplante, sem outras complicações. A MAT é uma doença que necessita de estudos para melhorar o diagnóstico e estratificação de seu tratamento, a fim de promover maior sobrevida ao paciente

Platelet/Lymphocyte ratio independently predicts the outcome of severe aplastic anemia patients treated with antithymocyte globulin.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the clinical role of platelet/lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in severe aplastic anemia patients treated with antithymocyte globulin. METHODS: The outcomes of consecutive severe aplastic anemia patients treated with rabbit or swine antithymocyte globulin plus cyclosporine (n=159, from January 2012 to December 2018) were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: In a total of 159 patients, the actuarial 5-year survival rate was 85.6%. Low platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR≤55) was significantly associated with less complications at 1 month and 24 months after the antithymocyte globulin treatment (p=0.048 and 0.028, respectively). The univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that low platelet/lymphocyte ratio was an independent predictor of overall survival (p=0.03 and 0.04, respectively). Patients with low neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR≤0.18) had shorter survival time, but there was no significant difference (p=0.056). PLR was positively correlated with neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (r=0.38, p<0.0001) and age (r=0.17, p=0.0379), while it was negatively correlated with IgG level (r=-0.18, p=0.0309). The ratio of CD4/CD8 was significantly higher in low platelet/lymphocyte ratio group (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: The platelet/lymphocyte ratio reflects the immune abnormality of SAA. Notably, low platelet/lymphocyte ratio is an independently positive prognostic factor for severe aplastic anemia patients treated with antithymocyte globulin.

The predictive value of PNH clones, 6p CN-LOH, and clonal TCR gene rearrangement for aplastic anemia diagnosis.

Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) is a life-threatening bone marrow aplasia caused by the autoimmune destruction of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. There are no existing diagnostic tests that definitively establish AA, and diagnosis is currently made via systematic exclusion of various alternative etiologies, including inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFSs). The exclusion of IBMFSs, which requires syndrome-specific functional and genetic testing, can substantially delay treatment. AA and IBMFSs can have mimicking clinical presentations, and their distinction has significant implications for treatment and family planning, making accurate and prompt diagnosis imperative to optimal patient outcomes. We hypothesized that AA could be distinguished from IBMFSs using 3 laboratory findings specific to the autoimmune pathogenesis of AA: paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) clones, copy-number-neutral loss of heterozygosity in chromosome arm 6p (6p CN-LOH), and clonal T-cell receptor (TCR) γ gene (TRG) rearrangement. To test our hypothesis, we determined the prevalence of PNH, acquired 6p CN-LOH, and clonal TRG rearrangement in 454 consecutive pediatric and adult patients diagnosed with AA, IBMFSs, and other hematologic diseases. Our results indicated that PNH and acquired 6p CN-LOH clones encompassing HLA genes have ∽100% positive predictive value for AA, and they can facilitate diagnosis in approximately one-half of AA patients. In contrast, clonal TRG rearrangement is not specific for AA. Our analysis demonstrates that PNH and 6p CN-LOH clones effectively distinguish AA from IBMFSs, and both measures should be incorporated early in the diagnostic evaluation of suspected AA using the included Bayesian nomogram to inform clinical application.

First-line haploidentical stem cell transplantation in children and adolescents with severe aplastic anemia using mobilized peripheral blood as source of CD34+: Single-institutional experience in a transplant center from northeast Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: The only curative treatment for severe aplastic anemia in children is an allogeneic stem cell transplant; however, few patients have a matched related or unrelated donor. Haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT) using bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) has been recently described as effective and safe. In this study, we retrospectively report the outcome of twelve pediatric patients who underwent haplo-SCT using only PBSC. METHODS: The conditioning regimen consisted on rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (r-ATG) 2.5 mg/kg/d on days -7, -6,-5, and -4, and cyclophosphamide (Cy) 50 mg/kg/d on days -3 and -2. We used Cy 50 mg/kg/d on days +3 and +4, tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid as graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 1,099 days (45-1258 days). The overall survival rate up-to-date is 83.3%. In 10 of the 12 patients, a sustained graft was achieved. None of the patients had acute or chronic GVHD. CONCLUSIONS: Haplo-SCT could be established as a first-line treatment when there is no matched related or unrelated donor. According to this short sample and previous reports, PBSC are a feasible option effectively used as the sole source of stem cells. Additionally, post-transplant cyclophosphamide remains a good strategy for GVHD prevention.