Significance of Molecular Monitoring of T Cells for the Decision of Treatment Strategy for Epstein-Barr Virus-associated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2019 Jul;41(5):407-409. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000001262.

Abstract

A 17-year-old patient with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis achieved first remission after immunochemotherapy (ICT). However, he had fever with an increase in soluble interleukin-2 receptor, but not in ferritin. Molecular analysis revealed augmented plasma and T-cell EBV loads and reappearance of clonal T cells. Despite achieving second remission, the T-cell EBV load at week 8 after second ICT was almost similar to that at week 8 after first ICT. Hence, cyclosporine was decreased over a 9-month period, with molecular monitoring of plasma and T cells. In this article, we describe how useful molecular monitoring was for detecting relapse and resuming ICT.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Biological Monitoring
  • Cyclosporine / therapeutic use
  • Decision Making*
  • Ferritins / blood
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / therapy*
  • Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / virology
  • Male
  • Monitoring, Immunologic
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / blood
  • Recurrence
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes / virology*
  • Therapeutics / methods

Substances

  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Cyclosporine
  • Ferritins