Early Severe Infections Research Articles

Idecabtagene Vicleucel (ide-cel) Versus Standard (std) Regimens in Patients (pts) with Triple-Class-Exposed (TCE) Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM): Analysis of Cytopenias and Infections in Pts from KarMMa-3

Introduction In the KarMMa-3 trial (NCT03651128), ide-cel, a BCMA-directed CAR T cell therapy (Tx), significantly improved median progression-free survival (13.3 vs 4.4 mo, HR 0.49, P < 0.001) and overall response rate (71% vs 42%, P < 0.001) vs std regimens in pts with RRMM who were TCE to immunomodulatory (IMiD ®) agents, proteasome inhibitors (PIs), and daratumumab (Rodríguez-Otero NEJM 2023). Early high-grade (gr) cytopenias and severe infections have been reported post-CAR T cell infusion (Logue Blood 2022, Thibaud Blood 2022), and persistent cytopenias and infections can pose clinical challenges in pt care. In this safety analysis of KarMMa-3, we report frequency, kinetics of occurrence, and management of cytopenias and infections post-Tx with ide-cel or std regimens. Methods This international, randomized, multicenter phase 3 trial enrolled pts with RRMM who received 2-4 prior Txs (an IMiD agent, a PI, and daratumumab) and were refractory to the last Tx. Pts were randomized 2:1 to ide-cel or a std regimen (DPd, DVd, IRd, Kd, or EPd) selected by investigator based on prior anti-MM Tx. In the ide-cel arm, pts could have ≤ 1 cycle of optional bridging Tx (BTx) for disease control. Treated population (pop; ide-cel: pts who received leukapheresis [LA], BTx, lymphodepleting chemotherapy, or ide-cel; std regimens: pts who received any dose of study Tx) was used to assess adverse events (AEs), gr 3/4 AEs, and serious AEs. Safety pop (pts who received ide-cel or any dose of std regimens) was used to assess treatment-emergent AEs, AEs of special interest, investigator-identified neurotoxicity/cytokine release syndrome and others. In pts who had documented disease progression on std regimens and then underwent LA to receive ide-cel, only AEs before LA were included. In this analysis, incidence of cytopenias and infections at various time intervals and management, types of infections, and incidence of hypogammaglobulinemia (HGG) were assessed. Results At data cutoff (Oct 3, 2022), median follow-up was 24.1 (range 5.9−41.0) mo in the 386 randomized pts. In the treated pop, 248/249 (99.6%) vs 124/126 (98.4%) pts had any-gr AEs, 234 (94.0%) vs 96 (76.2%) had gr 3/4, and 36 (14.5%) vs 9 (7.1%) had gr 5 in ide-cel vs std regimens arms, respectively. Of the gr 5 AEs, 18/36 and 3/9 had verbatim terms consistent with progressive disease. In the safety pop, incidence of gr 3/4 cytopenias with ide-cel were higher early after infusion but generally resolved over time (196 [87.1%] pts at < 3 mo, 52 [24.1%] pts at 3−< 6 mo, 30 [14.7%] pts at ≥ 6 mo; Table 1) vs std regimens, which showed lower rate of resolution over time. More pts in the ide-cel (16 [7.1%]) vs std regimens arms (3 [2.4%]) had any-gr febrile neutropenia. Cytopenias were mainly managed using colony-stimulating factor in both arms (55.5% and 58.7%, respectively); RBC (48%) and platelet transfusions (32%) were more common in the ide-cel arm. Overall, incidence of gr 3/4 infections was high at < 3 mo and remained consistent over time in both arms (ide-cel: 17 [7.6%] pts at < 3 mo, 18 [8.3%] pts at 3−< 6 mo, 13 [6.4%] pts at ≥ 6 mo; Table 2). Any-gr bacterial infections were more common in the ide-cel vs std regimens arms with higher incidence at < 3 mo (10% vs 6%) but lowered at later timepoints. Incidence of gr ≥ 3 viral infections remained low and consistent with time; fungal infections were uncommon. Deaths due to infections occurred in 3 (1.3%) vs 1 (0.8%) pts at < 3 mo, 0 pts at 3−< 6 mo, and 7 (3.4%) vs 2 (2.6%) pts at ≥ 6 mo in the ide-cel vs std regimens arms, respectively. Indence of any-gr new HGG was higher in the ide-cel vs std regimens arms but decreased over time: 15 (6.7%) vs 2 (1.6%) pts at < 3 mo, 3 (1.4%) vs 1 (0.9%) at 3−< 6 mo, and 5 (2.5%) vs 0 at ≥ 6 mo, respectively; of these, 13 (5.8%) vs 1 (0.8%), 2 (0.9%) vs 1 (0.9%), and 5 (2.5%) vs 0 pts received IV immunoglobulin replacement Tx at the respective time intervals. Incidence rate (% per 100 pt-years, 95% CI) of second primary malignancies remained low and similar between arms (ide-cel, 4.0 [2.4−6.7]; std regimens, 4.4 [1.9−10.7]). Conclusion In KarMMa-3, most severe cytopenias associated with ide-cel occurred early, with a low incidence of prolonged cytopenias; all were largely manageable. Any-gr bacterial infections decreased over time while viral infections remained the same. No new safety concerns were identified for ide-cel; safety profile was consistent with previous reports. Study support 2seventy bio and Celgene, a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

IFIH1 deficiency causing neonatal herpes simplex virus encephalitis and recurrent retinitis

Homozygous loss-of-function variants in Interferon induced with helicase C domain 1 (IFIH1) leads to immunodeficiency with early onset recurrent and severe viral respiratory infections (Immunodeficiency 95; MIM 619773). Severe respiratory infections with RNA viruses such as rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are most characteristic of IFIH1 deficiency. IFIH1 encodes melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5), an intracellular sensor of mainly long double-stranded RNA (ds-RNA), a viral replication intermediate. When activated, MDA5 triggers antiviral pathways including increased transcription of Type 1-interferon. The antiviral role of MDA5 is best described for positive (+) RNA viruses such as Picornavirus family which produce long ds-RNA as a replication intermediate. We present a patient with neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis and recurrent retinitis with homozygous variant of unknown significance (VUS) in IFIH1, c.2062A>G (p.Lys688Glu).Patient is a 10-year-old male, born of consanguineous parents from the United Arab Emirates. Past medical history is notable for neonatal HSV encephalitis, grade 3 intraventricular hemorrhage, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, optic atrophy and recurrent HSV retinitis. Patient has no additional history of severe or recurrent infections. No family history of recurrent or severe infections, malignancy, autoimmunity or autoinflammation.Immune evaluation demonstrated anemia with elevated mean corpuscular volume and mild elevation of platelets and monocytes. Patient had normal lymphocyte subsets, normal T and B cell subset distributions, protective vaccine titers and normal immunoglobins apart from mildly elevated immunoglobulin G. An Invitae primary immunodeficiency panel demonstrated homozygous VUS in IFIH1, c.2062A>G (p.Lys688Glu). This variant is not found in gnomAD or ClinVar and has a Combined Annotation Dependent Depletion score of 22.6. Functional testing demonstrated decreased interferon induction after stimulation with intracellular RNA, intracellular DNA and agonists of both Toll-like receptor 7 and 9. These findings are consistent with MDA5 deficiency given decreased interferon response with known MDA5 agonists.In summary, we describe a patient with recurrent and severe infections with a DNA virus and no known infections with respiratory RNA viruses. Both DNA and RNA viruses produce long ds-RNA as replication intermediates, an MDA5 agonist. This patient highlights the anti-viral role of MDA5 for both DNA and RNA viruses.

ECOG,β2-Microglobulin, Hemoglobin and Lactate Dehydrogenase Can Predict Early Grade ≥ 3 Infection Accurately in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: A Real-World Study from China

Introduction: The study retrospectively analyzed data from phase III clinical trials (NCT00689936) to establish a predictive model (for ease of expression named Model 1;predictors: ECOG, β2-microglobulin, hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase)for the risk of early grade ≥3 infections in patients with multiple myeloma not eligible for transplant in 2018. Similar predictive models appeared in 2022(a simple score to predict early severe infections in patients with NDMM, Model 2(predictors: albumin, male sex, ECOG, non-IgA type MM); a risk assessment model for early grade≥ 3 infections in patients with NDMM, Model 3(predictors: ECOG, serum β2-microglobulin, globulin, hemoglobin)). This study aimed to determine whether three predictive models could be used to stratify early severe infections in real-world patients from China. Methods: 223 Patients with multiple myeloma in the Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from 1 May 2015 to 30 April 2022 were collected and evaluated based on the three different predictive models and the differences in infection rates among patients grouped by different models were analyzed. Cumulative incidence of early ≥ grade 3 infection was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test to assess the statistical significance of the difference. To compare the predictive performance in the prediction of infection, the ROC curve was used to show the area under the curve (AUC), and the DeLong's test was used to analyze the difference in AUC. Results: In Model 1,the probability of early ≥ grade 3 infection was significantly higher in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group (60.0% vs 44.1%, P=0.019). In Model 2,the probability of early ≥ grade 3 infection in the low-risk group, medium-risk group, and high-risk group had no statistically significant difference (51.7% vs 53.2% vs 62.5%, P=0.622). In Model 3,the probability of early ≥ grade 3 infection in the low-risk group, medium-risk group, and high-risk group had statistically significant difference (39.7% vs 56.6% vs 60.6%, P=0.044). Cumulative incidence of early ≥ grade 3 infection suggested that patients in the high-risk group had a higher likelihood of occurring early severe infection in the first 4 months in Model 1. In Model 2, no statistically significant differences in the probability of infections were observed among the different groups. There were no statistical differences between moderate-risk and high-risk groups (P=0.555) in Model 3, yet the high-risk (P=0.008）and moderate-risk groups（P=0.023）were substantially different from the low-risk groups(as shown in Figure 1). Comparing the predictive performance of the three models, the AUC of the three models was 0.633, 0.610,0.603(P >0.05). Model 1 was the clinical trial established based on the patients who received thalidomide and lenalidomide-based therapy, yet the patients of our center were mostly taking bortezomib-based therapy and were mostly frail. Consequently, a subgroup analysis was carried out. Subgroup analysis suggested a statistically significant difference in infection of patients treated with bortezomib (P=0.004) and a statistically significant difference in infections in frail patients (P=0.002) in Model 1. In patients treated with bortezomib and frail patients, the high-risk group had a significantly shorter time to early grade ≥3 infections compared with the low-risk group in Model 1(as shown in Figure 1). Conclusions: A predictive model based on ECOG, β2-microglobulin， hemoglobin, and lactate dehydrogenase (Model 1) offers superior use value and discrimination, including frail patients and those being treated with bortezomib. Figure 1View largeDownload PPTFigure 1View largeDownload PPT Close modal

A simple score to predict early severe infections in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

Infections remain a common complication in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and are associated with morbidity and mortality. A risk score to predict the probability of early severe infection could help to identify the patients that would benefit from preventive measures. We undertook a post hoc analysis of infections in four clinical trials from the Spanish Myeloma Group, involving a total of 1347 patients (847 transplant candidates). Regarding the GEM2010 > 65 trial, antibiotic prophylaxis was mandatory, so we excluded it from the final analysis. The incidence of severe infection episodes within the first 6 months was 13.8%, and majority of the patients experiencing the first episode before 4 months (11.1%). 1.2% of patients died because of infections within the first 6 months (1% before 4 months). Variables associated with increased risk of severe infection in the first 4 months included serum albumin ≤30 g/L, ECOG > 1, male sex, and non-IgA type MM. A simple risk score with these variables facilitated the identification of three risk groups with different probabilities of severe infection within the first 4 months: low-risk (score 0–2) 8.2%; intermediate-risk (score 3) 19.2%; and high-risk (score 4) 28.3%. Patients with intermediate/high risk could be candidates for prophylactic antibiotic therapies.

Real-world evidence of levofloxacin prophylaxis in elderly patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who received bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone regimen.

BackgroundAlthough survival outcomes of multiple myeloma (MM) have improved with the development of new and effective agents, infection remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of levofloxacin prophylaxis (in a real-world setting) during bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone (VMP) therapy in elderly patients with newly diagnosed MM.MethodsThis study retrospectively analyzed the records of patients with newly diagnosed MM treated with the VMP regimen between February 2011 and September 2020 at three institutes of the Republic of Korea.ResultsOf a total of 258 patients, 204 (79.1%) received levofloxacin prophylaxis during VMP therapy. The median number of levofloxacin prophylaxis cycles was 4 (range, 1‒9), but 10 patients did not complete the planned prophylaxis because of side effects. Sixty-six patients (25.5%) experienced severe infections during VMP therapy, most of which (74.7%) occurred within the first four cycles of VMP therapy regardless of levofloxacin prophylaxis status. Early severe infection was significantly associated with poor survival. In multivariate analysis, levofloxacin prophylaxis was significantly associated with a lower risk in early severe infection.ConclusionOur findings suggest that levofloxacin prophylaxis should be considered at least during the first four cycles of VMP therapy in elderly patients with newly diagnosed MM.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children.

Predictors of early diagnosis and severe infection in children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has killed more than 4 million people worldwide, have not been identified. However, some biomarkers, including cytokines and chemokines, are associated with the diagnosis, pathogenesis and severity of COVID-19 in adults. We examined whether such biomarkers can be used to predict the diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19 in pediatric patients. Eighty-nine children were included in the study, comprising three patient groups of 69 patients (6 severe, 36 moderate and 27 mild) diagnosed with COVID-19 by real-time polymerase chain reaction observed for 2–216 months and clinical findings and 20 healthy children in the same age group. Hemogram, coagulation, inflammatory parameters and serum levels of 16 cytokines and chemokines were measured in blood samples and were analyzed and compared with clinical data. Interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) levels were significantly higher in the COVID-19 patients (p = 0.035, p = 0.006 and p < 0.001). Additionally, D-dimer and IP-10 levels were higher in the severe group (p = 0.043 for D-dimer, area under the curve = 0.743, p = 0.027 for IP-10). Lymphocytes, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels were not diagnostic or prognostic factors in pediatric patients (p = 0.304, p = 0.144 and p = 0.67). Increased IL-1β, IL-12 and IP-10 levels in children with COVID-19 are indicators for early diagnosis, and D-dimer and IP-10 levels are predictive of disease severity. In children with COVID-19, these biomarkers can provide information on prognosis and enable early treatment.

Prediction of Early Death and Severe Infections during Novel Agent-Based Induction Therapy in Newly-Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: An Intergroup Analysis from the German Speaking Myeloma Multicenter Group, the Dutch-Belgian Cooperative Trial Group for Hematology Oncology Foundation and the European Myeloma Network

Prediction of Early Death and Severe Infections during Novel Agent-Based Induction Therapy in Newly-Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: An Intergroup Analysis from the German Speaking Myeloma Multicenter Group, the Dutch-Belgian Cooperative Trial Group for Hematology Oncology Foundation and the European Myeloma Network

Protective effect of different doses of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis for early severe infections among patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis.

To analyse the protective effect of different doses of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) prophylaxis for early severe infections in antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), considering time-varying changes. In this retrospective observational study, we assessed the protective effect of TMP/SMX within the first 6 months of diagnosis among Japanese patients with AAV. We included 250 consecutive patients with AAV who were admitted to our hospital. The protective effect of TMP/SMX against early severe infections was verified using Cox regression analysis along with potential confounding factors. Cox regression with inverse probability treatment weights for early severe infections was also performed as a sensitivity analysis. Cox regression analysis showed that the reduced TMP/SMX exposure group had a significant protective effect against early severe infections (standard-dose group versus no TMP/SMX group: hazard ratio [HR] 0.393, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.139-1.11, p=0.077; reduced-dose group versus no TMP/SMX group: HR 0.418, 95%CI: 0.216-0.807, p=0.009), even when considering time-dependent changes. In the sensitivity analysis, the reduced-dose group still had a significantly lower risk of early severe infections than the no TMP/SMX group (HR = 0.393, 95%CI: 0.177-0.873, p=0.022). During follow-up, 18.0% of the patients discontinued TMP/SMX due to side effects. TMP/SMX is highly effective in preventing severe infections among patients with AAV despite the high incidence of side effects. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal dose of TMP/SMX for preventing severe infections, especially considering renal impairment.

A Decade Experience on Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Phenotype in Oman, Bridging to Newborn Screening.

IntroductionSevere combined immunodeficiency (SCID) results from various monogenic defects that impair immune function and brings on early severe and life-threatening infections. The main stay of treatment for SCID is hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) with near normal survival at 5 years for an early transplant done at or before the age of 3.5 months of life and the patient is maintained free of infections. Although overall rare, it constitutes a major burden on affected children, their families and on the health system especially in communities with a high rate of consanguinity where incidence and prevalence of recessive inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are expected to be high.MethodHere, we report the clinical, immunological, and molecular findings in 36 children diagnosed with SCID from a single tertiary center in Oman for the last decade.ResultsWe observed a median annual incidence rate of 4.5 per 100,000 Omani live births, and 91.7% of affected children were born to consanguineous parents. Twenty-three children (63.9%) fulfilled the criteria for typical SCID. The median age at onset, diagnosis and diagnostic delay were 54, 135, and 68 days, respectively. The most common clinical manifestations were pneumonia, septicemia, and chronic diarrhea. Eleven children (30.6%) have received hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) with a survival rate of 73%. The most frequent genetic cause of SCID in this cohort (n = 36) was (RAG-1), encoding for recombination activating gene (n = 5, 13.9%). Similarly, Major histocompatibility complex type II deficiency accounted for (n = 5, 13.9%) of our cohort.ConclusionOur report broadens the knowledge of clinical and molecular manifestations in children with SCID in the region and highlights the need to initiate newborn based screening program (NBS) program.

Innovative Cell-Based Therapies and Conditioning to Cure RAG Deficiency.

Genetic defects in recombination activating genes (RAG) 1 and 2 cause a broad spectrum of severe immune defects ranging from early severe and repeated infections to inflammation and autoimmune manifestations. A correlation between in vitro recombination activity and immune phenotype has been described. Hematopoietic cell transplantation is the treatment of care; however, the availability of next generation sequencing and whole genome sequencing has allowed the identification of novel genetic RAG variants in immunodeficient patients at various ages, raising therapeutic questions. This review addresses the recent advances of novel therapeutic approaches for RAG deficiency. As conventional myeloablative conditioning regimens are associated with acute toxicities and transplanted-related mortality, innovative minimal conditioning regimens based on the use of monoclonal antibodies are now emerging and show promising results. To overcome shortage of compatible donors, gene therapy has been developed in various RAG preclinical models. Overall, the transplantation of autologous gene corrected hematopoietic precursors and the use of non-genotoxic conditioning will open a new era, offering a cure to an increasing number of RAG patients regardless of donor availability and severity of clinical conditions.

Risk of Early Severe Infections in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients Treated with Novel Agents: A Pooled Analysis

Risk of Early Severe Infections in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients Treated with Novel Agents: A Pooled Analysis

Comparative Study of Mizoribine and Mycophenolate Mofetil Combined with a Calcineurin Inhibitor-Based Immunosuppressive Regimen in Patients with Alternative Donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remain the major causes of nonrelapse mortality (NRM) in patients following alternative donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Mizoribine (MZR) showed an anti-CMV effect in addition to its immunosuppressive effect in patients with renal transplantation. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MZR combined with a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) as a method of prophylactic immunosuppression in recipients following alternative donor HCT. Eighty patients were enrolled in the study and randomized to the MZR (n=40) or MMF (n=40) cohort before transplantation conditioning. Analyses involved a comparison of the outcomes between the 2 cohorts, as well as risk analyses of early nonrelapse mortality (NRM) and severe CMV infection. In contrast to MMF, MZR was associated with a lower but statistically nonsignificant median CMV DNA peak load (P=.075), significantly fewer episodes of persistent/refractory infection (odds ratio [OR], .12), and a lower failure rate of CMV treatment (OR, .82), but a significantly higher rate of hyperuricemia (OR, 2.75). Transplantation efficacy was comparable in the 2 cohorts regarding engraftment, the development of secondary poor graft function and GVHD, and the estimated OS and PFS. The 1-year NRM of the MZR cohort did not differ from that of the MMF cohort, whereas the rate of 1-year NRM caused by viral infections was reduced in the MZR cohort and was of borderline statistical significance (P=.05). In the multivariate analysis, lower doses of CD34+ cells in grafts (hazard ratio [HR], 3.65) and persistent/refractory CMV infections (versus no CMV infection: HR, 7.31; versus CMV infection that was not persistent/refractory: HR, 4.46) were predictors of increased 1-year NRM. The use of MMF (versus MZR cohort: OR, 11.54) and grade II-IV acute GVHD (OR, 15.32) were independent risk factors for developing persistent/refractory CMV infection. When combined with CNIs, MZR functioned well in terms of both immunosuppression and reduced severity of CMV infection; however, further studies are warranted to verify its use as a potential immunosuppressant for alternative donor HCT.

Initial high-dose corticosteroids and renal impairment are risk factors for early severe infections in elderly patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis

Recent large observational studies of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) show that severe infection is a major cause of death and that the majority of infections occur during the early phase of initiating remission-induction therapy. Many risk factors for severe infection have been suggested, but these have been inconsistent. Nevertheless, infectious risk factors in elderly patients with AAV have not been adequately investigated in previous studies.In this retrospective observational study, we examined potential predictors of severe infection within 90 days (early severe infections) after remission-induction therapy in patients with AAV aged 65 years or older. We included 167 consecutive elderly patients with AAV admitted to our hospital. Data from medical history and remission-induction therapy were analyzed for predictive risk factors associated with early severe infections. The relationship between initial doses of corticosteroids and cumulative incidence of severe infections was also analyzed. A multivariate analysis of risk factors for early severe infections was performed using logistic regression analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the overall survival, and the log-rank test was used to evaluate the differences between patients with and without early severe infections. Gray method was used to compare the cumulative incidence of severe infections in patients who did and did not receive initial high-dose corticosteroids.Logistic regression analysis showed that initial high-dose corticosteroid administration (prednisolone ≥0.8 mg/kg/d) (odds ratio [OR] 3.86, P = .030) and serum creatinine levels at diagnosis ≥1.5 mg/dL (OR 5.13, P = .003) were independent predictors of early severe infection although administration of cyclophosphamide or rituximab was not. The cumulative incidence of severe infections was also significantly higher in patients who received initial high-dose corticosteroids (P = .042), and patients with early severe infections exhibited a high mortality rate within 6 months (P < .001).Our findings suggest that initial high-dose corticosteroids and renal impairment at diagnosis are associated with a higher risk of early severe infections and early death in elderly patients with AAV.

Early predictors of one-year mortality in patients over 65 presenting with ANCA-associated renal vasculitis: a retrospective, multicentre study

BackgroundThe risk of early death is particularly high in patients over the age of 65 presenting with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated renal vasculitis. We hypothesized that by combining disease severity markers, a comorbidity index and serious adverse event reports, we would be able to identify early predictors of one-year mortality in this population.MethodsWe performed a multicentre, retrospective study in the nephrology and internal medicine departments of six tertiary hospitals in northern France. A total of 149 patients (median [interquartile range (IQR)] age: 72.7 [68.5–76.8] years) presenting with ANCA-associated vasculitis and renal involvement were included between January 2002 and June 2015. The primary endpoint was the one-year mortality rate.ResultsRenal function was severely impaired at presentation (median [IQR] peak serum creatinine (SCr): 337 [211–522] μmol/l), and 45 patients required dialysis. The Five-Factor Score (FFS, scored as + 1 point for each poor prognostic factor (age > 65 years, cardiac symptoms, gastrointestinal involvement, SCr ≥150 μmol/L, and the absence of ear, nose, and throat involvement)) was ≥3 in 120 cases. The one-year mortality rate was 19.5%. Most of the deaths occurred before month 6, and most of these were related to severe infections. In a univariate analysis, age, a high comorbidity index, a performance status of 3 or 4, a lack of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis, early severe infection, and disease activity parameters (such as the albumin level, haemoglobin level, peak SCr level, dialysis status, and high FFS) were significantly associated with one-year mortality. In a multivariable analysis, the best predictors were a high FFS (relative risk (RR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 2.57 [1.30–5.09]; p = 0.006) and the occurrence of a severe infection during the first month (RR [95%CI] = 2.74 [1.27–5.92]; p = 0.01).ConclusionsWhen considering various disease severity markers in over-65 patients with ANCA-associated renal vasculitis, we found that an early, severe infection (which occurred in about a quarter of the patients) is a strong predictor of one-year mortality. A reduction in immunosuppression, the early detection of infections, and co-trimoxazole prophylaxis might help to reduce mortality in this population.

Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation (CPAM) follow up from 23 week of gestation

The development of the respiratory system starts at 3 weeks of gestation, and aberrations in developmental processes may result in structural abnormalities collectively referred to as bronchopulmonary foregut malformations. These lesions include congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations (CCAMs), sequestrations and infantile lobar emphysema. Case presented is of right lung CCAM diagnosed at 23 weeks of gestation, followed during antenatal periods for complications, delivered at 39 weeks, planned thoracotomy with lobectomy done on 3rd day of life and followed up till 1 year. Detailed anomaly scan and close monitoring for structural abnormalities of fetus is needed for appropriate management. Relationship of CPAM with early pregnancy severe infections remains to be established.Med Phoenix Vol.2(1) July 2017, 63-66

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation corrects WIP deficiency

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation corrects WIP deficiency

Microtransplantation Improved Outcome in Elderly Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients - Report from China Microtransplantation Cooperative Group

The acute myeloid leukemia in elderly patients (EAML) is always associated with low complete remission (CR) rate and a poor survival due to prolonged pancytopenia and resistance of leukemic blasts to chemotherapy. The standard or high dose induction chemotherapy improved CR rate but remission is usually transient. Nonmyeloablative allergenic stem cell transplantation shows some curative effects but associated with severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Recently, our clinical studies showed that HLA-mismatched microtransplantation (MST) could increase CR rate and improve the survival but without GVHD. However, it is still lack of data and multicentre studies about MST in such patients. Here, we designed a multicentre study about microtransplantation in combination with chemotherapy in such patients and elevate effects and toxicity.Method. Total of the 148 patients with AML at the age of 60 years or over from May 2005 to May 2014, were enrolled in this study from the 11 hematology disease centers in China. The diagnosed was defined by the French-American-British (FAB) and WHO criteria. Chromosomal and immunephenotyping analyses were performed by pre-treatment of bone marrow obtained. Patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia or with a blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia were excluded. High risk was defined by the presence of complex cytogenetic abnormalities (with 3 or more cytogenetic abnormalities), secondary AML, or a WBC count of 50,000/µL or above. Other patients were considered at a standard risk. In accordance with the Helsinki Declaration, written informed consent for enrollment in this study was obtained from the patients or their legal guardians and the donors. Induction therapy includes cytarabine and anthracycline followed by HLA-mismatched G-CSF Mobilization HLA-mismatched donor peripheral stem cells (G-PBSC) infusion. The patients who achieved complete remission (CR) further received two courses of cytarabine as post-remission chemotherapy. None of the patients received any GVHD prophylactic treatment and further maintenance therapy. The donor and recipient HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles were genotyped using a PCR-SSP method. All of 148 patients had HLA-mismatched related or unrelated donors including 126 with a family-related donor, 16 with a distantly related donor and 6 with an unrelated donor.G-PBSC infusion: the median number of mononuclear cells, CD34+ and CD3+ T cells infused per course was 2.9 (1.2-5.2)´108/kg, 1.7(1.1-4.6)´106/kg and 0.9(0.5-2.6)´108/kg, respectively.Results. Total of 148 patients were divided into three groups with 60-65 years (n=54), 66-70 years (n=41) and over 71 years (n=53). The overall CR rate was 77% and CR rate of the first cycle of induction chemotherapy was 55.3%. The CR rate was not significantly different among the patients with 60-64 years (74.1%), 65-70 years (80.4%), and over 71 years (77.4%). The CR rate was much higher in the standard group than in the high risk group (88.2% vs. 63.3%, P=0.04). The early death rate and severe infection was no significantly different among three groups. The median recovery time of neutrophils and platelets was 12d and 14d, which were not significantly different among three groups. The probabilities of 12 months OS, 24 months and 36 months were not significantly different among the patients with 60-65 years (80.9%, 60.9% and 55.8%), 66-70 years (65.4%, 46.5% and 34.9%) and over 71 years (71.3%, 30.6% and 26.8%). No definite clinical acute or chronic GVHD was observed in all of the patients but two patients who developed a severe acute GVHD and dead on day 36. A frequencies of HLA-A0201/2402WT1+CD8+ T-cells was 0.23% which is no significantly difference between the patients with low 70 years or more. The donor micro-chimerism was detected in 11 of the 18 female patients with a range of 0.0000151- 0.0386 copies of gene expression.In conclusion, the microtransplantation combined conventional chemotherapy can result in a higher CR rate and OS with a shorter duration of pancytopenia, lower severe infections and hardly no GVHD, suggested that it is a much safer and effective new therapy for elderly AML patients including those who over 70 years old. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Sequential Chemotherapy Followed By Reduced Intensity Conditioning and Allogeneic Hematopoietic Transplantation For High Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients In First Complete Remission: A Prospective Pilot Study

Advances in chemotherapy have improved the prognosis of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), however, high-risk patients still have a poor outcome. In this category of patients, the only therapeutic strategy with curative potential remains allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). With the aim to improve the effect of allo-HSCT by sequential use of chemotherapy followed by reduced intensity conditioning (RIC), we conducted a prospective pilot study in high-risk AML patients in first complete remission (CR1). The high-risk population included intermediate II [t(9;11)(p22;q23); MLLT3-MLL, cytogenetic abnormalities not classified as favorable or adverse] and unfavourable patients [inv(3)(q21q26.2) or t(3;3)(q21;q26.2); t(6;9)(p23;q34); t(v;11)(v;q23); MLL rearranged, -5 or del(5q); -7; abnl(17p); complex karyotype] (Dohner et al. Blood 2010), secondary AML, and patients requiring 2 induction courses to obtain CR. The chemotherapy sequential regimen consisted in fludarabine 30 mg/m2, high-dose cytarabine 2 g/m2, and amsacrine 100 mg/m2 from days -12 to -9 (FLAMSA). After 3 days of rest, RIC consisted of 4 Gy total-body irradiation (TBI) on day -5, cyclophosphamide (40 mg/kg with HLA-identical sibling, 60 mg/kg for unrelated or mismatched donors) on days -4 and -3, and rabbit antithymocyte globulin (ATG, Genzyme) (5 mg/kg total dose) from day -3 to day -1. As a new experimental approach, we replaced TBI by iv. busulfan (BU) (Busilvex, Pierre Fabre) 3.2 mg/kg/d during either 4 or 2 days according to patient age (>55 years) (from day -7 to -4 or from day -5 to -4). Peripheral-blood stem cells (PBSC) were preferred; bone marrow (BM) and cord blood (CB) were also accepted. Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis consisted in ciclosporine from day -1, and mycophenolate mofetil (15 mg/kg bid), starting from day 0. In the absence of GvHD, MMF was discontinued by day+50 and ciclosporine was tapered from day +60 to +90. Except for cord blood transplantation, patients received 3 prophylactic increased doses of donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) if they were in CR and GvHD-free at day +120 or 30 days after discontinuation of immunosuppressive agents starting at 1x106 CD3+ cells/kg. Between August 2010 and March 2013, 26 consecutive AML patients in CR1 were included; 11 males and 15 females with a median age at allo-HSCT of 55 years (range: 24-67), 19 (73%) were de novo AML and 7 (27%) secondary AML. According to cytogenetics and molecular markers, 22 (85%) were unfavourable and 4 (15%) were in intermediate II category. Before allo-HSCT, to reach CR1, 20 (77%) patients received one induction chemotherapy and 6 (23%) needed 2 inductions. Cell source was PBSC for 23 (88%) patients, CB for 2 and BM for 1 patient. Donors were 10/10 HLA matched siblings in 9 (35%) patients, 10/10 HLA matched unrelated in 8 (31%) patients and HLA mismatched for the rest of patients [unrelated 9/10 (n=7), CB 4/6 (n=2)]. For ABO compatibility, 13 (50%) were compatible, 5 (19%) had minor incompatibility and 8 (31%) had major incompatibility. For conditioning, 6 (23%) patients received TBI, 13 (50%) received 4 days BU and 7 (27%) received 2 days BU. After transplantation, 23 (88%) patients engrafted, 3 patients died early (1 at day 1 and 1 at day 2 both from septic shock; 1 at day 8 from pneumonia and pericardial effusion). At day 90 post-allo-HSCT, 18 (78%) showed total donor chimerism and 5 (22%) had mixed chimerism and all patients were in CR. There were 6/23 (26%) patients with acute GvHD [2 gr I, 2 gr II and 2 gr III] and 5/23 (22%) chronic GvHD [4 limited and 1 extensive], all before DLI. After a median follow-up of 9 months (range: 0.03-35), the 2-years probability of overall survival (OS) for the whole population was 58% (confidence interval: 47-69) (Figure 1a) and the 2 years cumulative incidence of relapse was 18% (confidence interval: 17-19). At the latest follow-up, 16/23 (70%) engrafted patients were alive, 4/23 (17%) patients relapsed and died later and 3/23 (13%) patients died from transplant related infectious complications. No statistical difference in terms of OS and relapse incidence was found between the 3 types of conditioning, (Figure 1b). [Display omitted] FLAMSA-RIC regimen followed by allo-HSCT showed promising results in high-risk CR1 AML patients. Because of some early severe infections, an efficient prophylactic anti-infectious strategy is recommended. The use of BU instead of TBI does not impact on transplant outcomes. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Otitis Media in Infancy and the Development of Asthma and Atopic Disease

Otitis media is a frequent respiratory infection of early childhood and it is important to fully understand the long-term complications and sequelae. Literature examining otitis media in early childhood and subsequent development of atopic disease is sparse despite there being vast literature on the association between respiratory infections and atopic disease. Current data support the hypothesis that otitis media infections in early life, especially frequent or severe infections, influence the developing immune system, resulting in increased risk for asthma. Recent findings have also reported an association between otitis media and eczema. Atopic children and those with a family history of atopy appear to be at greater risk. Future work should investigate the specific mechanisms involved. It is possible that vaccines and preventive strategies aimed at reducing the burden of otitis media could also reduce the burden of childhood asthma and atopic disease.

Interaction Between Adaptive and Innate Immune Pathways in the Pathogenesis of Atopic Asthma: Operation of a Lung/Bone Marrow Axis

Atopic asthma is the most common form of asthma, particularly during childhood, and in many cases it persists into adult life. Although atopy is clearly a risk factor for development of this disease, only a small subset of subjects sensitized to aeroallergens express persistent symptoms, suggesting that additional pathogenic mechanisms are involved. Recent studies have implicated respiratory viral infections as key cofactors in asthma development in atopic patients. In relation to initial expression of the asthma phenotype in early childhood, it has been shown that although both atopic sensitization and early severe lower respiratory tract infections can operate as independent asthma risk factors, the persistence of asthma is most frequent among children who experience both insults, suggesting that the relevant inflammatory pathways interact to maximally drive disease pathogenesis. Importantly, it has been established that both these factors must be operative contemporaneously for these interactions to occur (ie, the interactions are likely to be direct). Recent studies on viral-induced asthma exacerbations in atopic children have provided a plausible mechanism for these interactions. Notably, it has been demonstrated that signals triggered during the innate immune response to the virus can lead to the release of large numbers of migrating high-affinity IgE receptor-bearing bone marrow-derived precursors of mucosal dendritic cells into the blood. The subsequent trafficking of these cells to the infected airway mucosa where dendritic cell turnover is very high provides a potential mechanism for recruitment of underlying aeroallergen-specific T-helper 2 immunity into the already inflamed milieu in the infected airway mucosa.