BackgroundConsensus diagnostic and risk stratification of transplant associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) was recently achieved from international transplantation groups (Schoettler et al, TCT, 2023). While the diagnostic criteria proposed have been applied to multiple pediatric cohorts, there are scant data applying the novel risk stratification approach in children with TA-TMA. MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, all children undergoing an allogeneic HCT or autologous HCT for neuroblastoma were prospectively screened for TA-TMA, diagnosed and risk-stratified using Jodele criteria from August 2019- October 2023. Our institutional practice during the study period was treat all Jodele intermediate and high-risk patients (IR, HR) with eculizumab. Harmonization risk stratification criteria were retrospectively applied. All survival analyses were calculated from the day of TA-TMA diagnosis. To identify which specific harmonization high-risk feature(s) were the most important predictors for NRM, full and reduced logistic regression models were tested. The lowest BIC and optimal Mallows’ CP statistic were used to identify the best subset. SAS 9.4 (Cary, NC) was used to complete the analysis. ResultsFifty-two children were diagnosed with TA-TMA during the study period a median of 37.5 days post HCT (range 3 to 735). Using Jodele risk stratification, 11 (21%) were SR, 21 (40%) intermediate risk, and 20 (39%) high- risk (HR). Forty (77%) were treated with eculizumab. There were no statistically significant differences in NRM among Jodele risk groups, though overall survival was significantly different. Using the harmonized stratification, 49 (94%) of children were stratified as HR and 3 as SR, there were no statistically significant differences in NRM or OS between groups. Eight (15.4%) children were classified as SR using Jodele risk stratification but re-stratified as HR using the harmonization criteria. One (12.5%) died in the setting of severe GVHD and the remaining 7 patients are alive at last follow up. In a best subset model, LDH >2x ULN (OR 6.52, 95% CI 0.96-44.3, p=0.05), grade 2-4 acute GVHD at the time of TA-TMA diagnosis (OR 15.4, 95% CI 2.14- 110.68, p=0.01), and multi-organ dysfunction at the time of TA-TMA (OR 21.5, 95% CI 2.96-156.37, p=0.002) were significantly associated with NRM; elevated sC5b-9, rUPCR, and viral infections were not significantly associated with NRM. Using these best fit criteria, 14 patients were classified as SR and 38 as HR; NRM was significantly higher and OS significantly lower. DiscussionIn this cohort of children with TA-TMA retrospective application of harmonization criteria resulted in more patients stratified as HR than previously described Jodele criteria. The intention of the harmonization criteria was to identify those at highest risk of poor outcomes; while all harmonization SR patients survived, this risk stratification was very sensitive. Previous criticisms of harmonization risk stratification include limited access to sC5b-9 testing– these data suggest that concurrent MOD, acute GVHD, and LDH >2X ULN are the most important predicators of NRM in this cohort, supporting the use of harmonization risk stratification even in the absence of available sC5b-9 testing. Additional studies are needed to validate these findings.