Treatment of severe neutropenic sepsis with granulocyte transfusion in the current era--experience from an adult haematology unit in Singapore

Role of granulocyte transfusions in combating life-threatening infections in patients with severe neutropenia: Experience from a tertiary care centre in North India

Bacterial and fungal infections still remain an important cause of mortality in patients with hematological malignancies and in recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) especially in developing countries like India. Granulocyte transfusions (GTX) from healthy donors may lead to early clearance of index infection and thus prevent mortality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of GTX in combating life-threatening infections and preventing mortality in patients of hematological disorders/recipients of HSCT with severe neutropenia. This study was a prospective, observational analysis of patients with different hematological disorders/recipients of HSCT, who received GTX from January 2014 to December 2017. All patients had an Absolute neutrophil Count (ANC) < 0.5 x 109/L and a life threatening sepsis defined by presence of hemodynamic instability/ impending septic shock/ continuous high fever despite the use of the highest line of antimicrobials. A total of 143 granulocyte collections were done for 66 infectious episodes (IEs) in 60 patients. Multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) were observed in 47/66 IEs (71.2%) and fungal infections were seen in 9/66 IEs (13.6%). Resolution of index infection after GTX was seen in 45/66 IEs (68.2%), and the 30 day overall survival (OS) was 67.7%. OS was significantly higher in patients who received GTX within 7 days of neutropenic sepsis (p = 0.01). Patients with MDROs who received early GTX therapy had a better OS as compared to those who received late GTX (p = 0.02). GTX were well tolerated and only 6 patients' developed mild features of transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) which was managed conservatively, and 1 patient demonstrated hypocalcemic tetany. GTX may be of particular relevance in countries like India, where the incidence of infections is very high in neutropenic patients and there is an increasing emergence of MDROs.

Synthetic Biology: Immunotherapy by Design

Cellular immunotherapy holds great promise for the treatment of human disease. Clinical evidence suggests that T cell immunotherapies have the potential to combat cancers that evade traditional immunotherapy. Despite promising results, adverse effects leading to fatalities have left scientists seeking tighter control over these therapies, which is reflected in the growing body of synthetic biology literature focused on developing tightly controlled, context-independent parts. In addition, researchers are adapting these tools for other uses, such as for the treatment of autoimmune disease, HIV infection, and fungal interactions. We review this body of work and devote special attention to approaches that may lend themselves to the development of an "ideal" therapy: one that is safe, efficient, and easy to manufacture. We conclude with a look toward the future of immunotherapy: how synthetic biology can shift the paradigm from the treatment of disease to a focus on wellness and human health as a whole.

Granulocyte transfusions in the management of invasive fungal infections

Granulocyte transfusions have a long history of being used in patients with neutropenia or neutrophil dysfunction to prevent and treat invasive fungal infections. However, there are limited and conflicting data concerning its clinical effectiveness, considerable variations in current granulocyte transfusion practices, and uncertainties about its benefit as an adjunct to modern antifungal therapy. In this review, we provide an overview on granulocyte transfusions and summarize the evidence on their role in the prevention and treatment of invasive fungal infections.

Adoptive T-cell therapy in the treatment of viral and opportunistic fungal infections

Viral infections and opportunistic fungal pathogens represent a major menace for immunocompromised patients. Despite the availability of antifungal and antiviral drugs, mortality in these patients remains high, underlining the need of novel therapeutic options based on completely different strategies. This review describes the potential of several T-cell-based therapeutic approaches in the prophylaxis and treatment of infectious diseases with a particular focus on persistent viral infections and opportunistic fungal infections, as these mostly affect immunocompromised patients.

Role of granulocyte transfusions in invasive fusariosis: systematic review and single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Invasive Fusarium infection is relatively refractory to available antifungal agents. Invasive fusariosis (IF) occurs almost exclusively in the setting of profound neutropenia and/or systemic corticosteroid use. Treatment guidelines for IF are not well established, including the role of granulocyte transfusions (GTs) to counter neutropenia.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a systematic review, identifying IF cases where GTs were used as adjunctive therapy to antifungal agents and also report a single-center case series detailing our experience (1996-2012) of all IF cases treated with antifungal agents and GTs. In the systematic review cases, GTs were predominantly collected from nonstimulated donors whereas, in the case series, they were universally derived from dexamethasone- and granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor-stimulated donors.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients met inclusion criteria for the systematic review and 11 for the case series. Response rates after GTs were 30 and 91% in the review and case series, respectively. Survival to hospital discharge remained low at 30 and 45%, respectively. Ten patients in the systematic review and three in the case series failed to achieve hematopoietic recovery and none of these survived. In the case series, donor-stimulated GTs generated mean "same-day" neutrophil increments of 3.35 × 10(9)  ± 1.24 × 10(9) /L and mean overall posttransfusion neutrophil increments of 2.46 × 10(9)  ± 0.85 × 10(9) /L. Progressive decrements in neutrophil response to GTs in two cases were attributed to GT-related HLA alloimmunization.

CONCLUSION

In patients with IF, donor-stimulated GTs may contribute to high response rates by effectively bridging periods of neutropenia or marrow suppression. However, their utility in the absence of neutrophil recovery remains questionable.

Eighteen years experience of granulocyte donations-acceptable donor safety?

BACKGROUND

Granulocyte transfusions are given to patients with life-threatening infections, refractory to treatment. The donors are stimulated with corticosteroids ± granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). However, data regarding the donors' safety is sparse. The objective was therefore to evaluate short- and long-term adverse events (AE) in G-CSF stimulated donors.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

All consecutive granulocyte donors from 1994 to 2012 were identified through our registry. From the donation records, the number of aphereses, stimulation therapy, AE, blood values post donation, and recent status were evaluated.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty-four volunteer donors were mobilized for 359 collections. Age at first granulocyte donation was 43 years (median; range 19-64 years). Follow-up was 60 months (median; range 0-229 months). The dose of G-CSF per collection was 3.8 ug/kg body weight (median; range 1.6-6.0 ug/kg). Sedimentation agent was HES. Short-term AE were mild. Blood values 4 weeks post donation with minor reductions/elevations mostly resolved in later donations. Fourteen donors were excluded from the registry due to hypertension (4), diabetes (2), atrial flutter (1), breast carcinoma (1), urethral carcinoma in situ (1), MGUS (1), thrombosis (1), anaphylaxis (1), primary biliary cirrhosis (1), and unknown (1). Three donors are deceased due to diabetes, acute myocardial infarction, and unknown cause. All excluded/deceased donors except one were excluded/died at least 6 months after first granulocyte donation.

CONCLUSION

No serious short-term AE were observed. Due to the variability of diagnoses among excluded/deceased donors, we propose that it is less likely that granulocyte donations have a causative impact on these donors' exclusion or death.

Granulocyte Transfusion Therapy

Bacterial and fungal infections continue to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in severely neutropenic patients undergoing aggressive chemotherapy regimens or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Traditional granulocyte transfusion therapy, a logical approach in treating these infections, has been available for many years, and several controlled studies have shown this therapy to be useful. However, granulocyte transfusion therapy fell out of favor because the results were not clinically impressive, and adverse results were reported. These disappointing results were felt to be, in part, because of the low doses of granulocytes provided. More recent studies have attempted to increase the numbers of transfused cells by stimulating normal granulocyte donors with G-CSF (+/-corticosteroids). With these techniques, the number of granulocytes transfused can be increased 3-4 fold. The cells have been shown to circulate in recipients, and daily transfusions are capable of maintaining normal or near-normal blood neutrophil counts in previously severely neutropenic patients. The cells appear to function normally by a variety of in vitro and in vivo tests. Clinical benefit, as defined by survival or clearance of infection, has not been definitively determined. Results of an ongoing randomized controlled clinical trial should be available in the near future.

Invasive fungal infections in acute leukemia

Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is among the leading causes for morbidity, mortality, and economic burden for patients with acute leukemia. In the past few decades, the incidence of IFI has increased dramatically. The certainty of diagnosis of IFI is based on host factors, clinical evidence, and microbiological examination. Advancement in molecular diagnostic modalities (e.g. non-culture-based serum biomarkers such as β-glucan or galactomannan assays) and high-resolution radiological imaging has improved our diagnostic approach. The early use of these diagnostic tests assists in the early initiation of preemptive therapy. Nonetheless, the complexity of IFI in patients with leukemia and the limitations of these diagnostic tools still mandate astute clinical acumen. Its management has been further complicated by the increasing frequency of infection by non-Aspergillus molds (e.g. zygomycosis) and the emergence of drug-resistant fungal pathogens. In addition, even though the antifungal armamentarium has expanded rapidly in the past few decades, the associated mortality remains high. The decision to initiate antifungal treatment and the choice of anti-fungal therapy requires careful consideration of several factors (e.g. risk stratification, local fungal epidemiologic patterns, concomitant comorbidities, drug-drug interactions, prior history of antifungal use, overall cost, and the pharmacologic profile of the antifungal agents). In order to optimize our diagnostic and therapeutic management of IFI in patients with acute leukemia, further basic research and clinical trials are desperately needed.

Immunotherapy for fungal infections

Invasive fungal infections have become a major cause of mortality in immunocompromised individuals. Despite the current availability of number of highly active antifungal agents, overall mortality remains around 40%. Importantly, it is clear that a failure to restore host immunity leads to worse outcomes. These observations provide clear rationale for the development of novel immunotherapies to improve outcomes in immunocompromised individuals with invasive fungal infections. In this article we summarise the key advances that have been made in the field of immunotherapy for fungal infections in recent years, with a particular focus on clinical studies of interferon-γ therapy, adoptive T cell therapy, and gene therapy for chronic granulomatous disorder. In addition a number of pre-clinical approaches are reviewed.

Alternative blood products and clinical needs in transfusion medicine

The primary focus of national blood programs is the provision of a safe and adequate blood supply. This goal is dependent on regular voluntary donations and a regulatory infrastructure that establishes and enforces standards for blood safety. Progress in ex vivo expansion of blood cells from cell sources including peripheral blood, cord blood, induced pluripotent stem cells, and human embryonic stem cell lines will likely make alternative transfusion products available for clinical use in the near future. Initially, alloimmunized patients and individuals with rare blood types are most likely to benefit from alternative products. However, in developed nations voluntary blood donations are projected to be inadequate in the future as blood usage by individuals 60 years and older increases. In developing nations economic and political challenges may impede progress in attaining self-sufficiency. Under these circumstances, ex vivo generated red cells may be needed to supplement the general blood supply.

Role of chemokines in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) is due to an uncontrolled systemic inflammatory response resulting from direct injury to the lung or indirect injury in the setting of a systemic process. Such insults lead to the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which includes activation of leukocytes-alveolar macrophages and sequestered neutrophils-in the lung. Although systemic inflammatory response syndrome is a physiologic response to an insult, systemic leukocyte activation, if excessive, can lead to end organ injury, such as ALI. Excessive recruitment of leukocytes is critical to the pathogenesis of ALI, and the magnitude and duration of the inflammatory process may ultimately determine the outcome in patients with ALI. Leukocyte recruitment is a well orchestrated process that depends on the function of chemokines and their receptors. Understanding the mechanisms that contribute to leukocyte recruitment in ALI may ultimately lead to the development of effective therapeutic strategies.

Adverse events and safety issues in blood donation--a comprehensive review

Although blood donation is generally safe, a variety of risks and complications exist, the most common being iron deficiency, vasovagal reactions and citrate-related events. In the last decades, extensive efforts have significantly improved recipient and product safety, but there is still great potential to optimise donor care. Many therapies in modern medicine depend on the prompt availability of blood products, therefore it is crucial to maintain a motivated and healthy donor pool in view of a limited number of healthy volunteers willing and able to give blood or blood components. We present a comprehensive review on adverse events addressing all types of blood donation including whole blood, plasma, platelet, peripheral blood stem cell, leucocyte and bone marrow donation. In addition, we outline strategies for the prevention and treatment of these events and give a blueprint for future research in this field.