Secondary Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Following Treatment with Azacitidine for Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for myelodysplastic neoplasms complicated with secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and Behçet's disease harboring GATA2 mutation

Myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) are defined by cytopenia and morphologic dysplasia originating from clonal hematopoiesis. They are also frequently complicated with diseases caused by immune dysfunction, such as Behçet's disease (BD) and secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (sPAP). MDS with both BD and sPAP is extremely rare, and their prognosis is poor. In addition, haploinsufficiency of the hematopoietic transcription factor gene GATA2 is recognized as a cause of familial MDS and is frequently complicated by sPAP. Herein, we report a case of MDS combined with both BD and sPAP in association with GATA2 deficiency in a Japanese woman. Because she developed progressive leukopenia and macrocytic anemia during BD treatment at the age of 61, she underwent a bone-marrow examination and was diagnosed with MDS. She subsequently developed sPAP. At the age of 63, she underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Since allo-HSCT, she has maintained complete remission of MDS as well as the symptoms of BD and sPAP. Furthermore, we performed whole exome sequencing and identified the GATA2 Ala164Thr germline mutation. These findings suggest that patients with MDS, BD and sPAP should be considered for early allo-HSCT.

Intestinal Behçet's disease complicated by myelodysplastic syndrome and secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: a case report

Background

Gastrointestinal lesions, which sometimes develop in Behçet’s disease (BD), are referred to as intestinal BD. Although rare, intestinal BD can be accompanied by myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with abnormal karyotype trisomy 8, which is refractory to immunosuppressive therapy. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a rare lung complication of BD and MDS. Herein, we present an extremely rare case of intestinal BD presenting with MDS and several chromosomal abnormalities, followed by secondary pulmonary proteinosis.

Case presentation

A 58-year-old Japanese woman with a 3-year history of genital ulcers and oral aphthae was admitted to our hospital. The patient developed abdominal pain and persistent diarrhea. Colonoscopy revealed multiple, round, punched-out ulcers from the terminal ileum to the descending colon. Intestinal BD was diagnosed and the patient was treated with colchicine, prednisolone, and adalimumab. However, her symptoms were unstable. Bone marrow examination to investigate the persistent macrocytic anemia revealed the presence of trisomy 8, trisomy 9, and X chromosome abnormalities (48, + 8, + 9, X, i(X) (q10) in 12 out of the examined 20 cells). Based on her hypoplastic bone marrow, the patient was diagnosed with low-risk MDS (refractory anemia). At the age of 61, the patient developed pneumonia with fever and diffuse ground-glass opacities on the lung computed tomography (CT). Chest high-resolution CT and histopathology via transbronchial lung biopsy revealed the presence of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP). These findings combined with the underlying disease led to the diagnosis of secondary PAP.

Conclusions

Secondary pulmonary proteinosis may accompany intestinal BD with MDS and several chromosomal abnormalities. Physicians should pay attention to lung complications, such as PAP, in patients with intestinal BD complicated by MDS. Genetic abnormalities may be associated with the development of such diseases.