Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita induced by GM-CSF: a role for eosinophils in treatment-related toxicity

Cutaneous reactions to novel therapeutics

In the last 2 decades the introduction new biologic agents such as tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors has resulted in potent disease modifying effects in a variety of immune-mediated diseases. In addition, there were major advancements in cancer treatment due to chemotherapeutic agents including granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor, interferon, epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, and kinase inhibitors for the treatment of hematologic malignancies as well as solid tumors. However, a variety of toxicities including cutaneous reactions is seen in association with these agents. Awareness of commonly associated skin toxicities and recognition of corresponding histologic features is of importance.

Granulomatous Dermatitis with Enlarged Histiocytes: A Characteristic Pattern of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor

Two patients developed a pruritic maculopapular rash following treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Histopathological examination disclosed a superficial dermal inflammatory infiltrate composed of interstitially arranged large histiocytic CD68+ cells and perivascularly disposed lymphocytes. Large histiocytes were interspersed among the collagen bundles with associated slight deposits of mucin. Elastophagocytosis was occasionally observed, and a slight reduction of dermal elastic fibers was also noted. There was no evidence of frank granuloma formation, fibrosis or significant changes of collagen bundles. This histopathological variant of granulomatous dermatitis with "enlarged histiocytes" seems to be characteristic of an unusual cutaneous reaction secondary to CSF treatment.

A generalized cutaneous reaction induced by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

BACKGROUND

The increasing use of recombinant forms of granulocyte and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factors (GCSF and GMCSF) for neutropenic conditions has resulted in reports of a variety of cutaneous reactions.

OBJECTIVE

We studied the clinical and histologic findings in three patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation and subsequently had a cutaneous eruption associated with the use of GCSF.

METHODS

Biopsy specimens taken at the height of the eruption were studied histologically and immunohistochemically.

RESULTS

The patients had indurated, well-demarcated, occasionally annular, erythematous desquamation after withdrawal of the medication. Distinctive histologic features consisted of mild epidermal spongiosis overlying a dermal infiltrate of enlarged, plump macrophages. Increased expression of the vascular adhesion molecules ELAM-1 and VCAM-1, as well as the histologic keratinocyte-produced ICAM-1, was noted.

CONCLUSION

the clinical and histological findings of the cutaneous reaction to GCSF are characteristic and allow its distinction from other eruptions that occur in bone marrow transplant recipients.

Cutaneous reactions to recombinant cytokine therapy

Cytokines are critical to several fundamental homeostatic mechanisms such as fever, acute phase reactions, wound healing, hematopoiesis, inflammation, cellular and humoral immune responses, and tumor regression. As a result of advances in recombinant DNA technology, recombinant cytokines are available as therapeutic agents. They have been used for metastatic cancers and immunodeficiencies, as a therapy for naturally occurring or drug-induced anemias or leukopenias, and they have also been applied to some cutaneous disorders. Cytokine therapy can result in toxic reactions that affect many organ systems, especially the skin. These reactions are common and diverse, ranging from minor injection site reactions, pruritus, and flushing to life-threatening autoimmune disorders, severe erythroderma, or bullous skin reactions. This review focuses on the major cytokines that are in current clinical use or under investigation and describes the cutaneous complications of these agents.

Felty's syndrome treated with rhG-CSF associated with flare of arthritis and skin rash

A patient with Felty's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis was treated with recombinant granulocyte stimulating factor rhG-CSF (Neupogen) in view of severe neutropenia. He had a prompt rise in his neutrophil count and associated with this a severe flare of his arthritis and a skin rash. rhG-CSF was stopped, his neutrophil count fell rapidly and his symptoms resolved. rhG-CSF and the resulting rise in neutrophil count may be associated with flare of autoimmune disease in susceptible individuals.

The effect of rGM-CSF on neutrophil and eosinophil regeneration after ABMT as monitored by circulating levels of granule proteins

In order to further evaluate the effects of rGM-CSF on the reconstituting granulopoiesis, plasma and serum levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and lactoferrin (LF), as well as serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), were monitored daily during a period of 3-4 weeks following ABMT in a group of 22 patients treated with either rGM-CSF (n = 11) or placebo (n = 11). Despite faster increase in the neutrophil counts in the rGM-CSF group, we did not observe any difference either in P-MPO or in P-LF during the period of early engraftment (days 11-19). This finding indicates that the proliferative effect of rGM-CSF on the neutropoiesis may be overestimated when neutrophil counts alone are taken into consideration, and suggests that other mechanisms may have contributed to the increase in the number of circulating neutrophils. The ratio of the serum to plasma level of LF, but not of MPO, was higher in the rGM-CSF group, probably reflecting a specific in vivo neutrophil priming effect. In the rGM-CSF group there was a clear increase of S-ECP during the second and third week post transplant, corresponding to an increase in eosinophil counts, which indicates that rGM-CSF stimulated eosinophil reconstitution without causing excessive activation of the mature eosinophils.

Sweet's syndrome associated with G-CSF

Sweet's syndrome (SS) developed in two patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) treated with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for febrile neutropenia due to AML chemotherapy. Fever, painful skin and conjunctival lesions developed and neutrophilic infiltration was detected at biopsy specimens. Neutrophilia was not detected. Skin lesions regressed within 1-2 weeks and conjunctival lesions within 4 weeks following the cessation of G-CSF. We conclude that SS may be a complication of G-CSF therapy and tender skin and/or conjunctival lesions developing during G-CSF therapy should suggest the possibility of SS.

Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference: clinical use of hematopoietic growth factors

The hematopoietic growth factors, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), have been cloned, produced in bacteria and yeast, and approved for clinical use in the treatment of neutropenia. Both factors stimulate the proliferation and maturation of neutrophil progenitors and enhance the effector functions of mature cells by interaction with specific receptors on the cell surface. Serum levels of G-CSF correlate inversely with the neutrophil count, suggesting that G-CSF may be the normal homeostatic regulator of the neutrophil count, while GM-CSF is generally undetectable in the serum and appears under normal physiologic conditions to act locally at inflammatory sites. Phase I and II clinical trials with these factors demonstrated minimal toxicity for G-CSF and mild to moderate dose-dependent toxicity for GM-CSF. Recent clinical trials, including double-blind, randomized studies, support a role for these growth factors in the treatment of chronic neutropenias, such as Kostmann's syndrome, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), aplastic anemia, and myelodysplasia, as well as in acute neutropenias, such as cyclic neutropenia, chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, and bone marrow transplantation.