Outcomes and challenges treating pediatric acute myeloid leukemia: a retrospective analysis of patients treated at the Fundación Valle del Lili between 2011 and 2020.

INTRODUCTION: Acute myeloid leukemia is a challenging disease, due to a poor prognosis in developing countries. Herein, we aim to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes after chemotherapy and transplantation. METHODS: A retrospective analytic observational study was performed with patients under 18 years of age with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia treated at a referral center in Colombia. Two groups were compared: induction therapy (IT) and induction therapy plus consolidation (IT + C). The survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: We analyzed 34 patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia; 20 received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Most were French-American-British (FAB) classification types M1, M5 and M0. The transplantation was haploidentical in 65%, conditioning was myeloablative in 67% and graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis was performed with post-transplant cyclophosphamide in 70%. Overall, the 5-year survival was 52% and the overall 5-year survival in the transplanted group was 80%. There were 16 deaths; in the IT group, n = 12, and in the IT + C group, n = 4. In the former, the main cause of death was septic shock and in the latter, it was relapse. CONCLUSION: Transplantation is a safe option. Receiving treatment and supportive measures in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation units is necessary to avoid infections, especially during induction cycles.

First report of Wilson disease and Bruton agammaglobulinemia in the same patient caused by new mutations in ATP7B and BTK genes.

INTRODUCTION: Wilson disease is characterized by an alteration in copper metabolism that causes its accumulation in different tissues. Its diagnosis is established by the combination of clinical manifestations and paraclinical and genetic studies. Bruton agammaglobulinemia is an X-linked recessive hereditary disease belonging to the group of primary immunodeficiencies and is produced by mutation in the Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) gene. CASE REPORT: A 14-year-old Colombian patient with clinical characteristics of Bruton agammaglobulinemia presented with liver disease and clinically and molecularly diagnosed with Wilson disease. DISCUSSION: Bruton agammaglobulinemia and Wilson disease are considered rare diseases because of their low prevalence. We report for the first time a pediatric patient from southwestern Colombia presenting with both entities, and diagnosed clinically and molecularly, an association so far not reported in the literature.

First report of Wilson disease and Bruton agammaglobulinemia in the same patient caused by new mutations in ATP7B and BTK genes

Introduction: Wilson disease is characterized by an alteration in copper metabolism that causes its accumulation in different tissues. Its diagnosis is established by the combination of clinical manifestations and paraclinical and genetic studies. Bruton agammaglobulinemia is an X-linked recessive hereditary disease belonging to the group of primary immunodeficiencies and is produced by mutation in the Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) gene. Case report: A 14-year-old Colombian patient with clinical characteristics of Bruton agammaglobulinemia presented with liver disease and clinically and molecularly diagnosed with Wilson disease. Discussion: Bruton agammaglobulinemia and Wilson disease are considered rare diseases because of their low prevalence. We report for the first time a pediatric patient from southwestern Colombia presenting with both entities, and diagnosed clinically and molecularly, an association so far not reported in the literature (AU)

Impact of health-related quality of life on pediatric patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a Colombian institution / Impacto de la calidad de vida relacionada a la salud en pacientes pediátricos con trasplante de progenitores hematopoyéticos en una institución colombiana.

Introduction: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the curative option for some diseases and is increasing patient survival. The health-related quality of life in these patients is not systematically evaluated. Objectives: The present study sought to describe the health-related quality of life and complications in children who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on pediatric transplanted survivors. Health-related quality of life was measured using the KIDSCREEN-27 scale and Short Form-12 (SF-12) in patients between 8 and 14 years of age and those over 14 years, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 12 software. We used the Rasch model person parameter estimates translated into T-values to score the questionnaire. Results: A total of 42 children answered the questionnaires. The most frequent adverse events were chronic graft Vs. host disease and endocrine complications. According to European norm data in the KIDSCREEN-12 scale, scores for the school dimension and social and peer support were below the 50th. percentile. The group administered immunosuppressants had lower scores on the physical component of the SF-12™ scale. Conclusions: In general, the KIDSCREEN-27 does appear to suggest some quality-of-life deficit in younger children. The scales showed reliability in this population.

Introducción. El trasplante de células madre hematopoyéticas es la opción curativa para algunas enfermedades y está aumentando el tiempo de supervivencia de los pacientes. La calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en estos pacientes no se evalúa de manera sistemática. Objetivos. Describir la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud y las complicaciones en niños con trasplante de células madre hematopoyéticas. Materiales y métodos. Es un estudio transversal en pacientes pediátricos sobrevivientes al trasplante. Se midió la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud, utilizando el cuestionario KIDSCREEN-27 en pacientes entre 8 y 14 años y la SF-12™ (Short Form-12) en pacientes mayores de 14 años. El análisis estadístico se realizó en el software Stata 12. Utilizamos el modelo de Rasch, trasladando estimación de parámetros a valores t para obtener el resultado de los cuestionarios. Resultados. En total, 42 pacientes respondieron alguno de los cuestionarios. Los eventos adversos más frecuentes fueron "enfermedad crónica de injerto Vs. contra huésped" y "complicaciones endocrinas". De acuerdo con la normalidad de datos del KIDSCREEN-27, los puntajes de las dimensiones "ambiente escolar" y "soporte social y pares" fueron inferiores al percentil 50. En el cuestionario SF-12™, el grupo que utilizaba inmunosupresores tuvo un menor puntaje en el componente físico. Conclusiones. En general, los resultados del KIDSCREEN-27 sugieren un cierto déficit de calidad de vida en pacientes entre 8 y 14 años. Los cuestionarios mostraron confiabilidad en la muestra.

Impacto de la calidad de vida relacionada a la salud en pacientes pediátricos con trasplante de progenitores hematopoyéticos en una institución colombiana / Impact of health-related quality of life on pediatric patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a Colombian institution

Introducción. El trasplante de células madre hematopoyéticas es la opción curativa para algunas enfermedades y está aumentando el tiempo de supervivencia de los pacientes. La calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en estos pacientes no se evalúa de manera sistemática. Objetivos. Describir la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud y las complicaciones en niños con trasplante de células madre hematopoyéticas. Materiales y métodos. Es un estudio transversal en pacientes pediátricos sobrevivientes al trasplante. Se midió la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud, utilizando el cuestionario KIDSCREEN-27 en pacientes entre 8 y 14 años y la SF-12™ (Short Form-12) en pacientes mayores de 14 años. El análisis estadístico se realizó en el software Stata 12. Utilizamos el modelo de Rasch, trasladando estimación de parámetros a valores t para obtener el resultado de los cuestionarios. Resultados. En total, 42 pacientes respondieron alguno de los cuestionarios. Los eventos adversos más frecuentes fueron "enfermedad crónica de injerto Vs. contra huésped" y "complicaciones endocrinas". De acuerdo con la normalidad de datos del KIDSCREEN-27, los puntajes de las dimensiones "ambiente escolar" y "soporte social y pares" fueron inferiores al percentil 50. En el cuestionario SF-12™, el grupo que utilizaba inmunosupresores tuvo un menor puntaje en el componente físico. Conclusiones. En general, los resultados del KIDSCREEN-27 sugieren un cierto déficit de calidad de vida en pacientes entre 8 y 14 años. Los cuestionarios mostraron confiabilidad en la muestra.

Introduction: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the curative option for some diseases and is increasing patient survival. The health-related quality of life in these patients is not systematically evaluated. Objectives: The present study sought to describe the health-related quality of life and complications in children who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on pediatric transplanted survivors. Health-related quality of life was measured using the KIDSCREEN-27 scale and Short Form-12 (SF-12) in patients between 8 and 14 years of age and those over 14 years, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 12 software. We used the Rasch model person parameter estimates translated into T-values to score the questionnaire. Results: A total of 42 children answered the questionnaires. The most frequent adverse events were chronic graft Vs. host disease and endocrine complications. According to European norm data in the KIDSCREEN-12 scale, scores for the school dimension and social and peer support were below the 50th. percentile. The group administered immunosuppressants had lower scores on the physical component of the SF-12™ scale. Conclusions: In general, the KIDSCREEN-27 does appear to suggest some quality-of-life deficit in younger children. The scales showed reliability in this population.

Demographic and clinical characterization of pediatric group patients with inborn errors of the immune system in a Colombian tertiary hospital.

INTRODUCTION: In recent decades, there has been a growing increase in the diagnosis of patients with inborn errors of the immune system, formerly known as primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDs). Timely diagnosis remains a challenge due to low clinical suspicion and poor education on the subject. It is estimated that between 70% and 90% of these pathologies remain underdiagnosed in our environment. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to characterize the demographic and clinical presentation of pediatric group patients with inborn errors of the immune system in a Colombian tertiary hospital. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study of 306 patients with a diagnosis of innate errors of the immune system who consulted the PID clinic between 2011 and 2018 in a high-complexity institution in Cali, Colombia. RESULTS: Three-hundred and six patients were included. The median age was 4 years (IQR 2.3-7.7 years), and 59.5% of the patients were male. According to the International Union of Immunological Societies Expert Committee for Primary Immunodeficiency classification for inborn errors of the immune system, the most common group was antibody deficiency in 74.8% (n˂229), especially in the age group between 1 and 5 years. The least frequent in our population was complement deficiency. Of the warning signs stipulated for these pathologies, the most frequent were the (1) need for intravenous antibiotics (32%), (2) difficulty growing (15.7%), (3) four or more episodes of ear infection (10.8%), and (4) abscesses in organs or cutaneous abscesses (12.7%). No patient reported two or more episodes of pneumonia or sinusitis, and only 5.8% of the patients received a bone marrow transplant. CONCLUSIONS: Innate errors of the immune system require an early diagnosis with follow-up from an early age to ensure adequate management and follow-up in order to reduce morbidity and mortality. It is imperative to sensitize the medical population about the existence of these pathologies so that early intervention can be carried out, which improves the quality of life of patients and their families.

Fanconi anemia and haploidentical stem cell transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Fanconi anemia is a congenital disorder belonging to bone marrow syndromes, with a risk of developing malignancy. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only curative treatment in these cases. Here, we aimed to report our clinical experience in pediatric patients with Fanconi anemia treated with haploidentical stem cell transplantation and post-transplant cyclophosphamide, an alternative strategy. METHODS: We performed a case report based on clinical records of two patients who signed the informed consent form and were treated at Fundación Valle del Lili. RESULT: Two pediatric patients, both with reduced-intensity conditioning, prophylaxis for acute graft-versus-host disease with post-transplant cyclophosphamide. They achieved primary neutrophil/platelets engraftment, and 100% chimerism. Had grade I or II graft-versus-host disease resolved? Currently are alive and in complete remission. CONCLUSIONS: The use of mismatched related donors for haploidentical stem cell transplantation and post-transplant cyclophosphamide might be a promising option, and well-tolerated in pediatric patients. Serial chimerism can be useful during follow-up.

Skin manifestations in pediatric patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) in a tertiary care hospital in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: The current literature describes the characteristics of some skin manifestations in the context of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs), also known as inborn errors of the immune system. However, there are hardly any data on the epidemiological trends of skin manifestations and PIDs in Latin America (LA). We aimed to describe the characteristics of patients with skin manifestations and the diagnosis of a PID treated at a tertiary hospital in Colombia. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study. Data were taken from the institutional database of pediatric PIDs, which includes 306 patients under 18 years of age who attended a tertiary care center in Cali, Colombia for inpatient or outpatient services between December 2013 and December 2018. A trained third-year dermatology resident reviewed the electronic clinical records of all the patients in the database and double-checked patients who presented with cutaneous signs and symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients out of the original 306 patients (27.1%) presented with some type of cutaneous manifestation. Of these patients, 56.6% had atopic dermatitis, 56.6% reported at least one episode of skin infection, and some of the patients had both of these manifestations. Infections were more frequent in the PID group of combined immunodeficiency associated with well-defined syndromes and atopic dermatitis in the group of antibody deficiencies. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to recognize dermatological clinical characteristics in patients with PIDs. More studies are necessary to establish recommendations regarding the approach of diagnosis and management of these patients.

Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplant with Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide in Pediatric Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis.

PURPOSE: Primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a severe and uncommon disease affecting pediatric patients. Genetic abnormalities have been related to altered apoptosis and exaggerated inflammatory reactions. Chemoimmunotherapy and stem cell transplantation are treatment options, but transplant is the only curative treatment. Here we aim to describe the treatment with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with a novel strategy and the outcomes. METHODS: An observational, descriptive, case series study was performed in pediatric patients of two high complexity medical centers in Colombia. Data was collected retrospectively between 2015 and 2020. RESULTS: We describe five pediatric cases with a diagnosis of primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. All were treated with replete-cell haploidentical hematopoietic stem transplantation, reduced-intensity conditioning, and post-transplant cyclophosphamide, in two high-complexity centers in Colombia. All patients are alive, and one is receiving management for chronic graft-versus-host disease. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, there are few reports in the literature with this strategy, promising a possible alternative when there are no other donor options.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children with Inborn Errors of Immunity: a Multi-center Experience in Colombia.

PURPOSE: To characterize the pediatric population with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) that was treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in three reference centers in Colombia. What have been the characteristics and outcomes of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in pediatric patients with inborn errors of immunity in three reference care centers in Colombia between 2007 and 2018? METHODS: We conducted an observational, retrospective cohort study in children with a diagnosis of IEI who underwent HSCT between 2007 and 2018. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients were identified, and 5 were re-transplanted. Sixty-eight percent were male. The median age at diagnosis was 0.6 years, and for HSCT was 1.4 years. The most common diseases were chronic granulomatous disease (38%) followed by severe combined immune deficiencies (19%) and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (15%). Cord blood donors were the most used source of HSCT (44%). T cell-replete grafts from haploidentical donors using post-transplantation cyclophosphamide represent 37% of the cohort. All patients received conditioning, 62% with a non-myeloablative regimen. Calcineurin inhibitors were the main graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis (63.8%). Acute graft-versus-host disease developed in 35% of the total patients. The most frequent post-transplant infections were viral and fungal infections. The 1-year overall survival rates for the patients who received HSCT from identical, haploidentical, and cord sources were 80%, 72%, and 63%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival was 63%. CONCLUSIONS: HSCT is a curative treatment option for some IEI and can be performed with any donor type. Early and timely treatment in referral centers can improve survival.

Desenlace de los pacientes pediátricos con falla medular tratados en un centro de alta complejidad / Outcomes in pediatrics patients diagnosed with bone marrow failure disorders treated in a tertiary care center

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los síndromes de falla medular (SFM) son trastornos infrecuentes, con una incidencia anual de 2-4 casos por millón. Las opciones de tratamiento incluyen terapia de inmunosupresión (TIS) y restaura ción de la hematopoyesis con trasplante de progenitores hematopoyéticas (TPH). OBJETIVO: Analizar los desenlaces de pacientes pediátricos diagnosticados con SFM tratados en una institución de alta complejidad. PACIENTES Y MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes pediátricos con diagnóstico de SFM que consultaron a la Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali. Se realizo análisis estadístico descriptivo según SFM adquirida (SFMA) y SFM congénita (SFMC). Los desenlaces incluyeron: tratamiento, complicaciones, supervivencia global (SG) en los trasplantados, calculada con el método Kaplan Meier. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 24 pacientes con SFM, edad 6,5 ± 4 años, 50% mujeres. El 58% fue ron SFMC, 9 con anemia de Fanconi, 2 disqueratosis congénita, 2 trombocitopenia amegacariocítica congénita, uno anemia Diamond-Blackfan. Doce pacientes con TPH tuvieron SG a 5 años de 83%. SFMA correspondió al 42%, 6 recibieron TIS-TPH, 3 TIS y 1 TPH, la SG del grupo con TIS-TPH fue 86%. Seis pacientes fallecieron, 4/6 relacionadas con infección. CONCLUSIONES: En esta serie fue mayor el número de casos con SFMC. La SG de los pacientes llevados a TPH es comparable con la reportada en estudios recientes. La causa de muerte predominante fue infecciosa que también se ha reportado previamente. El tratamiento instaurado en los pacientes de esta serie mostró resultados favorables en un centro de alta complejidad en un país latinoamericano.

INTRODUCTION: Bone marrow failure (BMF) syndromes are rare disorders with an annual incidence of 2-4 cases per million. Treatment options include immunosuppressive therapy (IST) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). OBJECTIVE: To analyze the outcomes of pediatric patients diagnosed with BMF treated in a tertiary care center. PATIENTS AND METHODP: Retrospective study of pediatric patients diagnosed with BMF who consulted at Fundación Valle de Lili, Cali. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed according to Acquired BMF (ABMF) and Inherited BMF (IBMF). The outcomes include treatment, complications, overall survival (OS) in transplant patients, calculated using the Kaplan Meier method. RESULTS: We included 24 patients with BMF, average age 6.5 ± 4 years, and 50% were women. 58% presented IBMF, 9 with Fanconi anemia (FA), 2 dyskeratosis congenita, 2 congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia, and 1 presented Diamond-Blackfan anemia. 12 patients treated with HSCT had a 5-year OS of 83%. ABMF represented 42%. 6 patients received IST-HSCT, 3 received IST, and 1 received HSCT. The OS of the IST-HSCT group was 86%. Six patients died, four of them related to infection. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, there was a higher number of cases with IBMF. The OS of patients treated with HSCT is similar to that reported in recent studies. The most frequent cause of death was of infectious origin which has also been previously reported. The treatment esta blished in the patients showed favorable results in a Latin American tertiary care center.

Outcomes in pediatrics patients diagnosed with bone marrow failure disorders treated in a tertiary care center. / Desenlace de los pacientes pediátricos con falla medular tratados en un centro de alta complejidad.

INTRODUCTION: Bone marrow failure (BMF) syndromes are rare disorders with an annual incidence of 2-4 cases per million. Treatment options include immunosuppressive therapy (IST) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). OBJECTIVE: To analyze the outcomes of pediatric patients diagnosed with BMF treated in a tertiary care center. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Retrospective study of pediatric patients diagnosed with BMF who consulted at Fundación Valle de Lili, Cali. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed according to Acquired BMF (ABMF) and Inherited BMF (IBMF). The outcomes include treatment, complications, overall survival (OS) in transplant patients, calculated using the Kaplan Meier method. RESULTS: We included 24 patients with BMF, average age 6.5 ± 4 years, and 50% were women. 58% presented IBMF, 9 with Fanconi anemia (FA), 2 dyskeratosis congenita, 2 congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia, and 1 presented Diamond-Blackfan anemia. 12 patients treated with HSCT had a 5-year OS of 83%. ABMF represented 42%. 6 patients received IST-HSCT, 3 received IST, and 1 received HSCT. The OS of the IST-HSCT group was 86%. Six patients died, four of them related to infection. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, there was a higher number of cases with IBMF. The OS of patients treated with HSCT is similar to that reported in recent studies. The most frequent cause of death was of infectious origin which has also been previously reported. The treatment esta blished in the patients showed favorable results in a Latin American tertiary care center.