Viral etiology, clinical and laboratory features of adult hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Critical risk factors analysis of infection-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in children

To analyze the critical factors of infection-associated Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in children, so as to provide theoretical basis for clinicians to evaluate the disease condition, formulate treatment plan and improve prognosis. This study is a retrospective analysis. 60 cases of children with infection-associated HLH were divided into critical and non-critical groups based on the presence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and the clinical characteristics and laboratory data of the two groups of children were analyzed. A multifactor logistic regression analysis model was used to assess the independent risk factors affecting critical illness in children with infection-associated HLH, and the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of risk factors for critical illness in children with infection-associated HLH. Children in the critical group with HLH had a younger age at onset. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), D-dimer (DD), and triglycerides (TG) were significantly higher in the critical group, while albumin (ALB) was significantly lower, showing statistical significance (P < 0.05). Multifactorial logistic regression analysis of age, ALB, and TG showed that younger age and lower ALB were associated with a higher risk of MODS in children with infection-associated HLH, with age and ALB being independent risk factors for critical illness. ALB predicted the ROC area under the curve for critical children with infection-associated HLH was 0.765 (95% CI: 0.643-0.888, P = 0.011), with the optimal cut-off value being 32.50 g/L (sensitivity = 68.3%, specificity = 84.2%); age predicted the ROC area under the curve for critical children with infection-associated HLH was 0.711 (95% CI: 0.570-0.851, P = 0.009), with the optimal cut-off value being 1.50 years (sensitivity = 70.7%, specificity = 68.4%). This study suggests that younger patients and those with hypoalbuminemia among infection-related HLH patients are more likely to develop MODS. In the future, verification will be required through large-scale, multi-center studies.

Macrophage Activation Syndrome in Viral Sepsis

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a life-threatening systemic hyperinflammatory syndrome triggered by various infections, particularly viral infections, autoimmune disorders, and malignancy. The condition is characterized by an increased production of proinflammatory cytokines resulting in a cytokine storm and has been associated with poor clinical outcomes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with severe manifestations developed features similar to those of MAS, although these characteristics remained well defined within the lung. Additionally, other viral infections including EBV, the herpes family of viruses, hepatitis viruses, influenza, HIV, and hemorrhagic fevers can be complicated by MAS. The diagnosis and management of the condition remain challenging due to the lack of consensus on specific guidelines, especially among the adult population. Currently, therapeutic options primarily rely on medications that are typically used to treat primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, such as corticosteroids and etoposide. In addition, cytokine-targeted therapies present promising treatment options. The objective of this review is to discuss the emergence of MAS in the context of viral infections including, but not limited to, its occurrence in COVID-19.

Algorithm for the diagnosis and management of the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID-19

OBJECTIVE

Although the initial reports of COVID-19 cases in children described that children were largely protected from severe manifestations, clusters of paediatric cases of severe systemic hyperinflammation and shock related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection began to be reported in the latter half of April 2020. A novel syndrome called "multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children" (MIS-C) shares common clinical features with other well-defined syndromes, including Kawasaki disease, toxic shock syndrome and secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis/macrophage activation syndrome. Our objective was to develop a protocol for the evaluation, treatment and follow-up of patients with MIS-C.

METHODS

The protocol was developed by a multidisciplinary team. We convened a multidisciplinary working group with representation from the departments of paediatric critical care, cardiology, rheumatology, surgery, gastroenterology, haematology, immunology, infectious disease and neurology. Our protocol and recommendations were based on the literature and our experiences with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. After an agreement was reached and the protocol was implemented, revisions were made on the basis of expert feedback.

CONCLUSION

Children may experience acute cardiac decompensation or other organ system failure due to this severe inflammatory condition. Therefore, patients with severe symptoms of MIS-C should be managed in a paediatric intensive care setting, as rapid clinical deterioration may occur. Therapeutic approaches for MIS-C should be tailored depending on the patients' phenotypes. Plasmapheresis may be useful as a standard treatment to control hypercytokinemia in cases of MIS-C with severe symptoms. Long-term follow-up of patients with cardiac involvement is required to identify any sequelae of MIS-C.

An Atypical Presentation of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) Secondary to Occult Hodgkin Lymphoma

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and life-threatening syndrome of immune system dysregulation characterized by the phagocytosis of various cells by histiocytes in the bone marrow. HLH can present in one of the two ways: primary HLH, which is caused by mutations in genes essential to T and NK-cell function, and secondary HLH, typically caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection or malignancy. Because of the rapid progression and high mortality of this disease, prompt diagnosis is essential to good outcomes. Here, we report the 2-month clinical course of a patient who presented with altered mental status and recurrent fever of unknown origin. Initially, he did not meet diagnostic criteria for HLH and had a negative bone marrow biopsy; however, he eventually progressed to full-blown HLH secondary to occult Hodgkin lymphoma. This case is unusual for the slow and smoldering course of the patient's disease and highlights the importance of aggressively searching for potential malignancies to ensure the initiation of definitive therapy as soon as possible.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: Potentially Underdiagnosed in Intensive Care Units

BACKGROUND

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in adults (aHLH) is a rare life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome caused by excessive activation of macrophages and CD8+ T-cells. Due to the clinical overlap with severe sepsis, aHLH often remains undiagnosed resulting in poor outcome. Here, we present a retrospective study of incidence, clinical findings, and the outcome of aHLH in intensive care units (ICUs).

METHODS

This retrospective analysis was performed at the university hospital Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. We gathered data from 556 out of 46,532 patients admitted to our anesthesiological ICUs between 2006 and 2013, who had at least one plasma ferritin measurement during ICU treatment, and were at least 18 years old. Of these, 244 patients with ferritin at least 500 μg/L and available datasets of at least 4 HLH-2004 criteria were included. HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria and the recently published HScore were used. An aHLH expert team retrospectively reviewed the potential aHLH cases.

RESULTS

Seventy-one of the included 244 patients died; 9 out of the 244 patients were retrospectively classified as aHLH of whom 4 patients had died (44.4%). Two of the 9 aHLH patients had been correctly diagnosed and had received specific aHLH treatment. Thus, 7 out of 9 patients (77.8%) remained undetected. ICU patients with at least 1 captured ferritin value and hyperferritinemia showed an aHLH rate of 3.7%, which rises up to 5.6% when only deceased patients are considered. Mortality in this selected cohort is 44.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, 7 out of 9 patients (77.8%) suffering from aHLH remained undiagnosed. Awareness of this life-threatening syndrome, especially in ICUs, should be raised. The inclusion of ferritin into the admission lab panel for ICU is warranted.Clinical trial registered with www.ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02854943) on August 1, 2016. As this is a retrospective study, trial registration was after final data collection date.

Pegilodecakin combined with pembrolizumab or nivolumab for patients with advanced solid tumours (IVY): a multicentre, multicohort, open-label, phase 1b trial

BACKGROUND

IL-10 has anti-inflammatory and CD8+ T-cell stimulating activities. Pegilodecakin (pegylated IL-10) is a first-in-class, long-acting IL-10 receptor agonist that induces oligoclonal T-cell expansion and has single-agent activity in advanced solid tumours. We assessed the safety and activity of pegilodecakin with anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody inhibitors in patients with advanced solid tumours.

METHODS

We did a multicentre, multicohort, open-label, phase 1b trial (IVY) at 12 cancer research centres in the USA. Patients were assigned sequentially into cohorts. Here, we report on all enrolled patients from two cohorts treated with pegilodecakin combined with anti-PD-1 inhibitors. Eligible patients were aged at least 18 years with histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced malignant solid tumours refractory to previous therapies, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. Patients with uncontrolled infectious diseases were excluded. Pegilodecakin was provided in single-use 3 mL vials and was self-administered subcutaneously by injection at home at 10 μg/kg or 20 μg/kg once per day in combination with pembrolizumab (2 mg/kg every 3 weeks or 200 mg every 3 weeks) or nivolumab (3 mg/kg every 2 weeks or 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks at the approved dosing), both of which were given intravenously at the study site. Patients received pembrolizumab or nivolumab with pegilodecakin until disease progression, toxicity necessitating treatment discontinuation, patient withdrawal of consent, or study end. The primary endpoints were safety and tolerability, assessed in all patients enrolled in the study who received any amount of study medication including at least one dose of pegilodecakin, and pharmacokinetics (previously published). Secondary endpoints included objective response by immune-related response criteria in all patients who were treated and had evaluable measurements. The study is active but no longer recruiting, and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02009449.

FINDINGS

Between Feb 13, 2015, and Sept 12, 2017, 111 patients were enrolled in the two cohorts. 53 received pegilodecakin plus pembrolizumab, and 58 received pegilodecakin plus nivolumab. 34 (31%) of 111 patients had non-small-cell lung cancer, 37 (33%) had melanoma, and 38 (34%) had renal cell carcinoma; one (<1%) patient had triple-negative breast cancer and one (<1%) had bladder cancer. Data cutoff was July 1, 2018. Median follow-up was 26·9 months (IQR 22·3-31·5) for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, 33·0 months (29·2-35·1) for those with melanoma, and 22·7 months (20·9-27·0) for those with renal cell carcinoma. At least one treatment-related adverse event occurred in 103 (93%) of 111 patients. Grade 3 or 4 events occurred in 73 (66%) of 111 patients (35 [66%] of 53 in the pembrolizumab group and 38 [66%] of 58 in the nivolumab group), the most common of which were anaemia (12 [23%] in the pembrolizumab group and 16 [28%] in the nivolumab group), thrombocytopenia (14 [26%] in the pembrolizumab group and 12 [21%] in the nivolumab group), fatigue (11 [21%] in the pembrolizumab group and 6 [10%] in the nivolumab group) and hypertriglyceridaemia (three [6%] in the pembrolizumab group and eight [14%] in the nivolumab group). There were no fatal adverse events determined to be related to the study treatments. Of the patients evaluable for response, objective responses were 12 (43%) of 28 (non-small-cell lung cancer), three (10%) of 31 (melanoma), and 14 (40%) of 35 (renal cell carcinoma).

INTERPRETATION

In this patient population, pegilodecakin with anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies had a manageable toxicity profile and preliminary antitumour activity. Pegilodecakin with pembrolizumab or nivolumab could provide a new therapeutic opportunity for previously treated patients with renal cell carcinoma and non-small-cell carcinoma.

FUNDING

ARMO BioSciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company.

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis associated with fulminant hepatitis and multiorgan failure following primary Epstein-Barr virus and herpes simplex virus type 1 infection

We present a case of severe fatal hepatitis in a young patient presumably triggered by two ubiquitous viral diseases which occurred in close succession. This case is unusual because of the exceptional chronological sequence of primary Epstein–Barr virus and herpes simplex virus type 1 infection causing systemic immune dysregulation associated with rapidly developing liver failure and consecutive multiorgan failure. Clinical, laboratory and histopathological findings indicated the development of secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis triggered by these closely succeeding viral primary infections.

Acute liver failure caused by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in adults: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare condition that can be caused by a primary or acquired disorder of uncontrolled immune response. Liver injury is a common complication of HLH; however, HLH presenting as acute liver failure (ALF) has rarely been reported in adults.

CASE SUMMARY

A 34-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with nausea and fatigue persisting for 2 weeks and jaundice for 1 week. He had hyperthermia at the onset of disease. At admission, he had severe liver injury with unknown etiology. The laboratory data showed that he had hyperferritinemia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypofibrinogenemia. Finally, a bone marrow biopsy revealed hemophagocytic cells, and he was diagnosed with HLH. The patient was treated with prednisone and plasma exchange. However, the liver function of the patient deteriorated, and he finally died of multiorgan failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Reports of adult patients with ALF caused by HLH have increased, and HLH should be suspected in patients with ALF of indeterminate cause. Although the efficacy of the treatment strategy recommended by the HLH 2004 remains to be confirmed in adult patients with ALF caused by HLH, early diagnosis and prompt combined treatment with steroids and cyclosporin A or etoposide should be emphasized.

Understanding the spectrum of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: update on diagnostic challenges and therapeutic options

The cytokine storm syndrome 'haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis' (HLH) is an under-recognized hyperinflammatory disorder, causing high morbidity and mortality risk in children and adults. It can be subdivided into a primary, genetic form and a secondary, acquired form that complicates diverse infections, malignancies and autoimmune or autoinflammatory disorders. Both subtypes present with the same spectrum of non-specific symptoms, making accurate diagnosis and rapid treatment initiation challenging. In the last decade, increased awareness and international collaborative efforts fuelled a marked progress in diagnostic protocols and novel treatment strategies for HLH and new diagnostic guidelines are being tailored to specific secondary HLH subtypes. Therapy is gradually shifting its focus from overall immunosuppression towards targeting specific cytokines, cell types or signalling pathways underlying pathophysiology. Nevertheless, continued research efforts remain indispensable to customize therapy to individual patient needs.