Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoproliferative disorder (HV-LPD) is a cutaneous form of chronic active Epstein-Barrvirus (EBV) infection, which can develop into the extremely rare systemic lymphoma. ...Patients with Inborn errors of immunity (IEI), such as common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), are at higher risk of developing a severe course of infections especially viral and malignancies than the general population. The aim of the study was to present complex diagnostic and therapeutic management of HV-LPD. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed at the histological and molecular level with next generation sequencing. HV-LPD was diagnosed in a patient with CVID and chronic active Epstein–Barr virus (CAEBV) infection. The patient was refractory to CHOP chemotherapy and immunosuppressive treatment in combination with antiviral drugs (prednisone, bortezomib, gancyclovir). The third-party donor EBV-specific cytotoxic T cells (EBV-CTL, tabelecleucel) were used, which stabilised the disease course. Finally, matched unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantation (MUD-HCT) was performed followed by another cycle of EBV-CTL.
Ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) is a multisystemic neurodegenerative inborn error of immunity (IEI) characterized by DNA repair defect, chromosomal instability, and hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation. ...Impaired DNA double-strand break repair determines a high risk of developing hematological malignancies, especially lymphoproliferative diseases. Poor response to treatment, excessive chemotherapy toxicities, and the need for avoiding exposure to ionizing radiation make the successful clinical management of patients with AT challenging for oncologists. We describe the favorable outcome of the LBCL with
rearrangement at stage III in a 7-year-old female patient diagnosed with AT. The patient was treated according to the B-HR arm of the INTER-B-NHL-COP 2010 protocol, including the administration of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, prednisone, etc. She presented excessive treatment toxicities despite individually reduced doses of methotrexate and cyclophosphamide. However, in the MRI there was no significant reduction in pathologic lymph nodes after three immunochemotherapy courses. Therefore, a lymph node biopsy was taken. Its subsequent histopathological examination revealed tuberculosis-like changes, though tuberculosis suspicion was excluded. After two following immunochemotherapy courses, PET-CT confirmed complete remission. From March 2022 onwards, the patient has remained in remission under the care of the outpatient children's oncology clinic.
Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a disorder characterized by a disruption of the lymphocyte apoptosis pathway, self-tolerance, and immune system homeostasis. Defects in genes within ...the first apoptosis signal (FAS)-mediated pathway cause an expansion of autoreactive double-negative T cells leading to non-malignant lymphoproliferation, autoimmune disorders, and an increased risk of lymphoma. The aim of the study was to show the diagnostic dilemmas and difficulties in the process of recognizing ALPS in the light of chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV) infection. Clinical, immunological, flow cytometric, biomarkers, and molecular genetic approaches of a pediatric patient diagnosed with FAS-ALPS and CAEBV are presented. With the ever-expanding spectrum of molecular pathways associated with autoimmune lymphoproliferative disorders, multiple genetic defects of FAS-mediated apoptosis, primary immunodeficiencies with immune dysregulation, malignant and autoimmune disorders, and infections are included in the differential diagnosis. Further studies are needed to address the issue of the inflammatory and neoplastic role of CAEBV as a triggering and disease-modifying factor in ALPS.
The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the severity of typical clinical symptoms, severity of histopathological lesions in kidney biopsies in IgA vasculitis nephritis ...(IgAVN) and to propose indications for kidney biopsy in children.
This retrospective study enrolled 106 patients, included in the IgAVN registry of Polish children, diagnosed by kidney biopsy. Renal and extrarenal symptoms at onset of the disease were analyzed. Biopsy results were assessed using Oxford classifications (MEST-C). The patients were divided into 3 groups depending on the severity of proteinuria: A-nephrotic proteinuria with hematuria; B-non-nephrotic proteinuria with hematuria; C-isolated hematuria.
The first symptoms of nephropathy were observed at the 0.7 (1-128.4) months from the onset of extrarenal symptoms. Kidney biopsy was performed on 39 (6-782) days after the onset of nephropathy symptoms. MEST-C score 4 or 5 was significantly more frequent in children from group A than in groups B and C. Significantly higher mean MEST-C score was found in patients with abdominal symptoms than without. In group A: S0 and T0 we found in significantly shorter time to kidney biopsy than in S1, T1-2 p < 0.05) and in group B the significantly shorter time in T0 compare to T1-2 p < 0.05). The ROC analysis shows that S1 changes appear in kidney biopsies in group A with cut off 21 days (AUC 0,702, p = 0.004, sensitivity 0.895 specificity 0.444) T1-2 changes after 35 days (AUC 0.685, p = 0.022, sensitivity 0.750, specificity 0.615), and in goupn B T1-2 cut off is 74 days (AUC 0,738, p = 0.002, sensitivity 0.667, specificity 0.833).
In childhood IgAVN, the severity of changes in the urine is clearly reflected in the result of a kidney biopsy. The biopsy should be performed in patients with nephrotic proteinuria no later than 3 weeks after the onset of this symptom in order to promptly apply appropriate treatment and prevent disease progression. Accompanying abdominal symptoms predispose to higher MESTC score.
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) vasculitis is the most common systemic vasculitis in the pediatric population. We present the case of a patient with IgA vasculitis with nephritis who developed cytomegalovirus ...(CMV) infection followed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In the literature, there are a few cases of IgA nephropathy accompanied by reactivation of CMV or tuberculosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of IgA vasculitis complicated by both CMV reactivation and tuberculosis. It is important to detect infections in patients with IgA vasculitis because they can induce and exacerbate the symptoms of the disease. Effective antimicrobial treatment facilitates the management of proteinuria and slows down the decline of renal function. Immunosuppressive therapy is a risk factor for reactivation of latent infections and makes patients more susceptible to its generalized and complicated course. This can be prevented by actively screening for hidden sites of infection.
The development of granulomas is a well-recognized manifestation of immunodeficiency in ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), resulting from lymphocyte developmental abnormalities, impaired ...immunosurveillance, and inappropriate innate immune response-driven inflammation.
To better understand pathological and immunological phenomena involved in development of cutaneous and visceral granulomatosis observable in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia.
We retrospectively reviewed medical records of eight A-T children, aged from 2 to 13 years, with regard to clinical, immunological and histopathological features of cutaneous and visceral granulomatosis.
In four out of eight A-T patients studied, cutaneous granulomas clinically presented as skin nodules and ulcerated erythematous plaques disseminated on the face, and on trauma-prone areas of upper and lower extremities. Visceral granulomatosis had a severe clinical course and involved the lungs, the spleen, the liver and the larynx. Histologically, cutaneous and laryngeal granulomas showed extensive cellular infiltrations containing T lymphocytes with predominating CD8+ phenotype and with CD68+ histiocytes. The immunological profile with the hyper-IgM phenotype, markedly reduced numbers of B and naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with predominating IgM-only memory B cells and skewed repertoire of a T cell receptor was observable in patients with skin and visceral granulomatosis.
In the setting of combined immunodeficiency in A-T, cutaneous and systemic granulomatosis reflects a granulomatous reaction pattern, as a result of inappropriate immune regulation.
We present a case of a 17-year-old girl with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) with suspicion of renal cell carcinoma in the left kidney. Pathomorphological examination revealed domination of fusiform ...cells, and foci of adipocytes with a tendency towards perivascular proliferation. Immunohistochemistry revealed a positive reaction for markers of angiomyolipoma (AML): SMA (smooth muscle actin), HMB-45 (Human Melanoma Black-45), and MelanA (melanocyte antigen), and negative reaction for markers of renal cell carcinoma. In addition, positive reaction for TFE3 (transcription factor binding to immunoglobulin heavy-chain enhancer 3) was found in nuclei. The tumour was classified as a lipid-poor AML, and treatment with rapamycin was started in the patient. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first renal AML in a TSC patient in whom nuclear expression of TFE3 was found. Differential diagnosis of lipid-poor renal lesions in TSC patients is a demanding challenge requiring a dedicated, experienced multidisciplinary team.
Tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) is an inflammatory process primarily involving the renal interstitium and is the cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in 3-7% of cases confirmed by renal biopsy in ...children. Aciclovir may have a nephrotoxic effect by crystallization in renal tubules or by inducing an immunologic process that leads to development of TIN. We report 2 male patients, aged 10 and 8 years, with nephrotic syndrome (NS), in whom disease relapse was triggered by varicella zoster infection. The patients received intravenous aciclovir which resulted in AKI due to acute TIN with the glomerular filtration rate 19.5 and 24.9 ml/min/1.73 m
, respectively. The diagnosis was confirmed by kidney biopsy in one of these patients. Initiation of glucocorticosteroids and withdrawal of aciclovir resulted in resolution of proteinuria and symptoms of AKI. In children with active NS treated with intravenous aciclovir, a possibility of AKI due to TIN should be taken into account.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the intensity of mesangial C3 deposits in kidney biopsy and the serum C3 level on the clinical course and outcomes of IgAN in children. The study ...included 148 children from the Polish Pediatric IgAN Registry, diagnosed based on kidney biopsy. Proteinuria, creatinine, IgA, C3 were evaluated twice in the study group, at baseline and the end of follow-up. Kidney biopsy was categorized using the Oxford classification, with a calculation of the MEST-C score. The intensity of IgA and C3 deposits were rated from 0 to +4 in immunofluorescence microscopy. The intensity of mesangial C3 > +1 deposits in kidney biopsy has an effect on renal survival with normal GFR in children with IgAN. A reduced serum C3 level has not been a prognostic factor in children but perhaps this finding should be confirmed in a larger group of children.
Splenosis is a heterotopic autotransplantation of splenic tissue after rupture of the splenic capsule caused by injury or during elective splenectomy in the management of haematological diseases. ...Splenosis might cause nonspecific abdominal symptoms but is usually asymptomatic, and it is diagnosed accidentally as an abdominal tumour. It is rarely diagnosed in the paediatric population. We describe a 12-year-old female patient with hereditary spherocytosis admitted to the hospital 3 years after elective splenectomy and cholecystectomy. In medical imaging abdominal and pelvic tumours together with enlarged lymph nodes were found. During laparoscopic surgery many nodules were found with morphology similar to splenic tissue in the omentum, on the surface of small intestine, colon and peritoneum. Results of histopathological examination confirmed splenosis. Splenosis should be considered in differential diagnosis of abdominal tumours in paediatric patients with a history of elective splenectomy or spleen injury.