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Xu S, He K. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis after solid organ transplantation: A challenge for clinicians. Transpl Immunol 2024; 83:102007. [PMID: 38307154 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2024.102007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare inflammatory disorder with a high mortality rate and a wide range of symptoms. Solid organ transplantation, which provides patients with a unique immunosuppressive state, is a less common predisposing factor for HLH. HLH after solid organ transplantation (HLH-SOT) is very rare and fatal. It is hard to diagnose and treat and extremely understudied. The use of immunosuppressants makes the situation of HLH-SOT more complex. This review summarizes the existing literature on HLH after solid organ transplantation and describes its triggers and symptoms, focusing on its diagnosis and treatment. We performed a literature search of case reports, case series, letters to the editor, and clinical quizzes describing patients with HLH after solid organ transplantation (HLH-SOT). We provide recommendations on the diagnosis protocol and treatment strategy based on the existing evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Kang He
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China.
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Jevtic D, da Silva MD, Haylock AB, Nordstrom CW, Oluic S, Pantic N, Nikolajevic M, Nikolajevic N, Kotseva M, Dumic I. Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in Patients with Tick-Borne Illness: A Scoping Review of 98 Cases. Infect Dis Rep 2024; 16:154-169. [PMID: 38525759 PMCID: PMC10961790 DOI: 10.3390/idr16020012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) secondary to tick-borne infections is a rare but potentially life-threatening syndrome. We performed a scoping review according to PRISMA guidelines to systematically analyze the existing literature on the topic. A total of 98 patients were included, with a mean age of 43.7 years, of which 64% were men. Most cases, 31%, were reported from the USA. Immunosuppression was present in 21.4%, with the most common cause being previous solid organ transplantation. Constitutional symptoms were the most common, observed in 83.7% of the patients, while fever was reported in 70.4% of cases. Sepsis was present in 27.6%. The most common laboratory abnormalities in this cohort were thrombocytopenia in 81.6% of patients, while anemia, leukopenia, and leukocytosis were observed in 75.5%, 55.1%, and 10.2%, respectively. Liver enzyme elevation was noted in 63.3% of cases. The H-score was analyzed in 64 patients, with the mean value being 209, and bone marrow analysis was performed in 61.2% of patients. Ehrlichia spp. was the main isolated agent associated with HLH in 45.9%, followed by Rickettsia spp. in 14.3% and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in 12.2%. Notably, no patient with Powassan virus infection or Lyme borreliosis developed HLH. The most common complications were acute kidney injury (AKI) in 35.7% of patients, shock with multiple organ dysfunction in 22.5%, encephalopathy/seizure in 20.4%, respiratory failure in 16.3%, and cardiac complications in 7.1% of patients. Treatment included antibiotic therapy alone in 43.9%, while 5.1% of patients were treated with immunosuppressants alone. Treatment with both antibiotics and immunosuppressants was used in 51% of patients. Appropriate empiric antibiotics were used in 62.2%. In 43.9% of cases of HLH due to tick-borne disease, patients received only antimicrobial therapy, and 88.4% of those recovered completely without the need for immunosuppressive therapy. The mortality rate in our review was 16.3%, and patients who received inappropriate or delayed empiric therapy had a worse outcome. Hence, we suggest empiric antibiotic treatment in patients who are suspected of having HLH due to tick-borne disease or in whom diagnostic uncertainty persists due to diagnostic delay in order to minimize mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorde Jevtic
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (D.J.); (A.B.H.)
- Department of Medicine, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, New York, NY 11373, USA
| | | | - Alberto Busmail Haylock
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (D.J.); (A.B.H.)
- Department of Medicine, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, New York, NY 11373, USA
| | - Charles W. Nordstrom
- Department of Hospital Medicine, Mayo Clinic Health System, Eau Claire, WI 54703, USA;
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
| | - Stevan Oluic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato, MN 56001, USA;
| | - Nikola Pantic
- Clinic of Hematology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Milan Nikolajevic
- School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.N.); (N.N.)
| | - Nikola Nikolajevic
- School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.N.); (N.N.)
| | - Magdalena Kotseva
- Internal Medicine Residency, Franciscan Health, Olympia Fields, Chicago, IL 60461, USA;
| | - Igor Dumic
- Department of Hospital Medicine, Mayo Clinic Health System, Eau Claire, WI 54703, USA;
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
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Benevenuta C, Mussinatto I, Orsi C, Timeus FS. Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in children (Review). Exp Ther Med 2023; 26:423. [PMID: 37602304 PMCID: PMC10433411 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.12122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, life-threatening condition characterized by hyperinflammation in an uncontrolled and ineffective immune response. Despite great improvement in diagnosis and treatment, it still represents a challenge in clinical management, with poor prognosis in the absence of an aggressive therapeutic approach. The present literature review focuses on secondary HLH at pediatric age, which represents a heterogeneous group in terms of etiology and therapeutic approach. It summarizes the most recent evidence on epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, and provides a detailed description and comparison of the major subtypes of secondary HLH. Finally, it addresses the open questions with a focus on diagnosis and new treatment insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Benevenuta
- Department of Pediatrics, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Torino 4, Chivasso Hospital, I-10034 Turin, Italy
| | - Ilaria Mussinatto
- Department of Pediatrics, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Torino 4, Chivasso Hospital, I-10034 Turin, Italy
| | - Cecilia Orsi
- Department of Pediatrics, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Torino 4, Chivasso Hospital, I-10034 Turin, Italy
| | - Fabio S. Timeus
- Department of Pediatrics, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Torino 4, Chivasso Hospital, I-10034 Turin, Italy
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Li J, Gao C, Zhu X, Yang D, Mao W, Yao H, Deng M, Tan L, Dai H, Xie X, Peng L, Peng F. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to virus infection and followed by lupus nephritis recurrence in a renal transplantation pediatric recipient: a case report. BMC Nephrol 2023; 24:200. [PMID: 37400798 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-023-03249-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and life-threatening disorder characterized by systemic inflammation and organ failure as a result of dysregulated immune cell activation. HLH can be induced by a variety of factors including infection, tumours and autoimmune disease and can also occur in patients following solid organ transplantation. Occurrence of HLH and lupus nephritis (LN) successively within a short period of time after renal transplantation is uncommon. CASE PRESENTATION We described an 11-year-old female post-transplant patient who presented with hemocytopenia, fever, elevated serum ferritin, splenomegaly, hyperlipidemia, and hypofibrinemia, and was clinically diagnosed with HLH. After comprehensive treatment with corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and reducing immunosuppressants, her condition improved, but then hematuria ensued. The transplant kidney biopsy showed LN. She was treated with hydroxychloroquine and methylprednisolone while intensive immunosuppressive agents were given. She has remained in remission for two years until now. CONCLUSIONS The main inducing factors of HLH should be identified as early as possible, and accurate treatment plans should be taken. The long-course IVIG regimen may be one of the effective treatments for virus-induced HLH. After remission of HLH, we need to be alert to the recurrence of autoimmune diseases in patients with underlying diseases, and timely increase immunosuppressants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyuan Li
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chen Gao
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xuejing Zhu
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Danyi Yang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Blood Purification, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wendan Mao
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hengchang Yao
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mingyang Deng
- Department of Hematology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Liang Tan
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Helong Dai
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Clinical Research Center for Organ Transplantation in Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- Clinical Immunology Center, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xubiao Xie
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Longkai Peng
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fenghua Peng
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
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