Allogeneic stem cell transplant in primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis - a single-center experience

Ann Hematol. 2024 Sep;103(9):3775-3782. doi: 10.1007/s00277-024-05890-x. Epub 2024 Jul 24.

Abstract

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare disorder of immune dysregulation characterized by fever, cytopenias, and splenomegaly. Its primary form poses a therapeutic challenge due to its high fatality when left untreated. We retrospectively analyzed 28 patients who underwent related-donor allogeneic stem cell transplant for primary HLH from 2010 to 2021. Among them were 10 cases of familial HLH, 8 cases of Griscelli syndrome type 2, and 1 case each with PRF1 and STX11 mutations. All the patients underwent transplants with reduced-intensity or myeloablative conditioning and 26 of them achieved neutrophil engraftment at a median of day + 14. The donors were either fully matched (68%) or haploidentical (32%). With a median follow-up of 1 year, overall survival was 68% (n = 19) and disease-free survival was 64.4% (n = 18). OS was better in patients transplanted with a sibling donor (compared to parent donor), who achieved complete donor chimerism, and those transplanted early in the course of the disease (diagnosis to transplant duration less than 6 months).

Keywords: Chimerism; Griscelli syndrome type 2; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis; Transplantation Conditioning.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Allografts
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* / mortality
  • Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* / therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Perforin
  • Piebaldism / therapy
  • Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Transplantation Conditioning / methods
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • PRF1 protein, human
  • Perforin

Supplementary concepts

  • Griscelli syndrome type 2