[Interest in thalidomide in cutaneo-mucous and hypothalamo-hypophyseal involvement of Langerhans cell histiocytosis]

Adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis and immunomodulatory drugs: Review and analysis of thirty-four case reports

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare neoplastic disease in dendritic cells. LCH is classified as either a single-system (SS) or multisystem (MS) disease. There is not a standard first-line treatment for LCH in adults. We analyzed the efficacy and safety of immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) by searching PubMed/MEDLINE for case reports previously published. The clinical response (nonactive disease or active disease that regressed) was 94% in SS and 53% in MS. IMiDs should only be considered for adults with cutaneous SS involvement; in MS, they should be used only for patients not eligible for more aggressive treatments.

Multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis: successful treatment with thalidomide

A 57-year-old woman presented with a 1-year history of non-healing inguinal and perianal ulcers as well as a 2-year history of polydipsia. The clinical picture and histology suggested Langerhans cell histiocytosis, which was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed hypothalamic-pituitary axis involvement. Treatment was started with thalidomide and desmopressin. The skin lesions resolved over 2 months. Over the next 24 months of continued therapy, the cerebral involvement remained stable and the skin lesions did not recur.

A phase II trial using thalidomide for Langerhans cell histiocytosis

BACKGROUND

Few new drugs for treatment of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) have been studied. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a prime therapeutic target since it appears to be present in elevated amounts in LCH lesions. Thalidomide inhibits TNF-alpha production by affecting the gene promoter as well as other anti-cytokine effects.

PROCEDURES

A Phase II trial of thalidomide for treatment of LCH patients who had failed primary and at least one secondary regimen was conducted. Sixteen patients were enrolled: nine males and seven females ranging in age from 19 months to 45 years. Six patients were high risk (HR) because of spleen, liver, lung, or bone marrow involvement. The low risk (LR) patients included six with bone/skin LCH, one with multiple bone, one with skin/bone/pituitary, one with skin/bone/brain, and one with skin only disease involvement. Fifteen patients remained on treatment from 3 weeks to over 1 year.

RESULTS

Among the LR patients there were four complete responses, three partial responses, and two with no response to thalidomide. No HR patient responded to thalidomide and all died of pulmonary, liver, or bone marrow failure. Thalidomide may have played a role in the pulmonary failure. Other toxicities that required stopping therapy included neutropenia, peripheral neuropathy, and fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS

Thalidomide is an effective therapy for some LR patients with LCH, but showed no significant responses in HR patients. Dose-limiting toxicities may reduce its efficacy in LR patients. Additional trials with improved anti-TNF therapies would appear warranted.

[Impact of systemic disease on the pituitary gland]

Systemic diseases located in hypothalamo-pituitary region can slowly induce pituitary deficiency, diabetes insipidus and morphological abnormalities. The aim of this study is to review recent clinical data about diagnosis of these rare diseases, with a focus on granulomatous diseases: histiocytosis and sarcoidosis. Recent clinical studies on histiocytosis have improved our knowledge about endocrine expression of the disease in children and in adults as well. Diabetes insipidus is the most frequent condition, described mainly in children. GH deficiency is the most frequent pituitary deficit in children and adult patients. During neurosarcoidosis, diabetes insipidus is the most frequent condition and gonadotropic deficiency is the most frequent deficit but GH has not been systematically studied. MRI allows visualisation of some lesions and is very useful to follow the disease course. Diagnosis of these diseases is made by clinical evaluation of all the sites and by pathological analysis of biopsies of peripheral lesions. While pituitary hormone replacement therapy does not seem to raise specific problems in these diseases, etiological treatments are not yet available and indications for antimitotic or immunomodulatory treatment are sometimes discussed.

[Thalidomide in adult multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis: a case report]

BACKGROUND

Adult multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis is an excepted disorder, which have several treatments. The purpose of this study was to test the disease-controlling effect of thalidomide in a case of adult multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis with cutaneomucous and hypothalamic localizations at dermatology department, of Mohammed-V military hospital, Rabat.

CASE REPORT

A 43-year-old women, presented multifocal chronic Langerhans cell histiocytosis confined to cutaneous, oral cavity, perianal, mastoid and hypothalamic areas, with severe disabling ulcers in intertriginous areas, diabetes insipid and amenorrhoea. We treated with thalidomide 200 mg/day after neurological examination. A rapid initial response with total diminution of the involved skin area, and diminution of diabetes insipid. She remained in remission for 1 year. No adverse effects from treatment were observed at clinical and electrophysiological examinations.

CONCLUSION

Thalidomide treatment is an adequate therapeutic measure in adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis, which is rare and difficult to treat. Our case showed the efficacy of thalidomide at cutaneomucosal and hypothalamic manifestations.