Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease with a characteristic vascular pathology. The vasculopathy associated with scleroderma is one of the major contributors to the clinical manifestations of the ...disease.
We used immunohistochemical and mRNA in situ hybridization techniques to characterize this vasculopathy and showed with morphometry that scleroderma has true capillary rarefaction. We compared skin biopsies from 23 scleroderma patients and 24 normal controls and 7 scleroderma patients who had undergone high dose immunosuppressive therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic cell transplant. Along with the loss of capillaries there was a dramatic change in endothelial phenotype in the residual vessels. The molecules defining this phenotype are: vascular endothelial cadherin, a supposedly universal endothelial marker required for tube formation (lost in the scleroderma tissue), antiangiogenic interferon alpha (overexpressed in the scleroderma dermis) and RGS5, a signaling molecule whose expression coincides with the end of branching morphogenesis during development and tumor angiogenesis (also overexpressed in scleroderma skin. Following high dose immunosuppressive therapy, patients experienced clinical improvement and 5 of the 7 patients with scleroderma had increased capillary counts. It was also observed in the same 5 patients, that the interferon alpha and vascular endothelial cadherin had returned to normal as other clinical signs in the skin regressed, and in all 7 patients, RGS5 had returned to normal.
These data provide the first objective evidence for loss of vessels in scleroderma and show that this phenomenon is reversible. Coordinate changes in expression of three molecules already implicated in angiogenesis or anti-angiogenesis suggest that control of expression of these three molecules may be the underlying mechanism for at least the vascular component of this disease. Since rarefaction has been little studied, these data may have implications for other diseases characterized by loss of capillaries including hypertension, congestive heart failure and scar formation.
Clonal cytogenetic abnormalities are a major risk factor for relapse after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). We determined the impact of the recently ...established 5-group cytogenetic classification of MDS on outcome after HCT. Results were compared with the impact of the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) 3 cytogenetic risk groups, and the additional effect of a monosomal karyotype was assessed. The study included data on 1007 patients, 1-75 years old (median 45 years), transplanted from related (n = 547) or unrelated (n = 460) donors. Various conditioning regimens were used, and marrow, peripheral blood, or cord blood served as stem cell source. Both IPSS and 5-group cytogenetic risk classifications were significantly associated with post-HCT relapse and mortality, but the 5-group classification discriminated more clearly among the lowest- and highest-risk patients. A monosomal karyotype tended to further increase the rates of relapse and mortality, even after considering the IPSS or 5-group classifications. In addition, the pathologic disease category correlated with both relapse and mortality. Mortality was also impacted by patient age, donor type, conditioning regimen, platelet count, and etiology of MDS. Although mortality declined significantly in recent years, novel strategies are needed to overcome the barrier of high-risk cytogenetics.
The term veno-occlusive disease of the liver refers to a form of toxic liver injury characterized clinically by the development of hepatomegaly, ascites, and jaundice, and histologically by diffuse ...damage in the centrilobular zone of the liver. The cardinal histologic features of this injury are marked sinusoidal fibrosis, necrosis of pericentral hepatocytes, and narrowing and eventual fibrosis of central veins. Recent studies suggest that the primary site of the toxic injury is sinusoidal endothelial cells, followed by a series of biologic processes that lead to circulatory compromise of centrilobular hepatocytes, fibrosis, and obstruction of liver blood flow. Thus we propose a more appropriate name for this form of liver injury--sinusoidal obstruction syndrome. This review encompasses historical perspectives, clinical manifestations of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in the setting of hematopoietic cell transplantation, histologic features of centrilobular injury, and a discussion of the pathophysiology of sinusoidal injury, based on both animal and clinical investigations.
Cutaneous sclerosis occurs in 20% of patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and can compromise mobility and quality of life.
We conducted a prospective, multicenter, randomized, ...two-arm phase II crossover trial of imatinib (200 mg daily) or rituximab (375 mg/m(2) i.v. weekly × 4 doses, repeatable after 3 months) for treatment of cutaneous sclerosis diagnosed within 18 months (NCT01309997). The primary endpoint was significant clinical response (SCR) at 6 months, defined as quantitative improvement in skin sclerosis or joint range of motion. Treatment success was defined as SCR at 6 months without crossover, recurrent malignancy or death. Secondary endpoints included changes of B-cell profiles in blood (BAFF levels and cellular subsets), patient-reported outcomes, and histopathology between responders and nonresponders with each therapy.
SCR was observed in 9 of 35 26%; 95% confidence interval (CI); 13%-43% participants randomized to imatinib and 10 of 37 (27%; 95% CI, 14%-44%) randomized to rituximab. Six (17%; 95% CI, 7%-34%) patients in the imatinib arm and 5 (14%; 95% CI, 5%-29%) in the rituximab arm had treatment success. Higher percentages of activated B cells (CD27(+)) were seen at enrollment in rituximab-treated patients who had treatment success (P = 0.01), but not in imatinib-treated patients.
These results support the need for more effective therapies for cutaneous sclerosis and suggest that activated B cells define a subgroup of patients with cutaneous sclerosis who are more likely to respond to rituximab.
Graft versus host disease (GvHD) is a clinically important complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Its diagnosis relies on clinical and histopathological ...findings. In order to evaluate and improve inter-institutional diagnostic agreement on histological diagnosis and grading of acute gastrointestinal GvHD, we conducted a round robin test, which included 33 biopsies from 23 patients after HSCT. Five pathologists from different institutions independently evaluated the original sections from the biopsies submitted for diagnosis. Based on their results, consensus qualitative criteria for the assessment of typical histological features of GvHD (e.g., apoptosis, crypt destruction, mucosa denudation) were proposed, including detailed descriptions as well as histological images. In a second round robin test with involvement of the same pathologists, the reproducibility of both diagnosis and grading had improved. Remaining differences were mostly related to differential diagnostic considerations, including viral infection or toxic side effects of medication, which should be resolved by integrating histopathological findings with proper clinical information.
Sirolimus-based graft vs. host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis is associated with higher incidence of veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (VOD/SOS) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell ...transplantation (HCT). However, whether the clinical manifestations and prognosis of VOD/SOS differs when diagnosed in the setting of sirolimus-based GVHD prophylaxis is not well studied. To address this question, we examined presenting features and treatment outcome of VOD/SOS cases identified in a large retrospective cohort of consecutive HCT procedures (n = 818 total, sirolimus (SIR)/tacrolimus (TAC) n = 308, and methotrexate (MTX) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)/TAC n = 510). In multivariate analysis, sirolimus-based GVHD prophylaxis (p = 0.006, HR 3.33, 1.94-5.7) increased risk for VOD/SOS. A total of 58 patients were clinically diagnosed with VOD/SOS (SIR/TAC 38/308, 12.3%, vs. MTX or MMF/TAC 20/510, 3.9%). VOD/SOS diagnosed following SIR/TAC prophylaxis demonstrated later time of onset (median 39 vs. 26 days; p = 0.005), less severe hyperbilirubinemia (Bili > 2, 65% vs. 90% p = 0.04), lesser degree of weight gain (weight gain > 5%, 52% vs 80%, p = 0.04), and more frequent complete resolution of hepatic injury (79% vs. 55%, p = 0.05). Presenting features and natural history of VOD/SOS in the context of SIR/TAC GVHD prophylaxis differ and thus warrant particular clinical attention to later hepatic injury in these patients.
Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg) targets leukemia cells expressing the CD33 receptor by means of a monoclonal antibody conjugated to a cytotoxic agent, calicheamicin. Treatment of acute myeloid ...leukemia (AML) with gemtuzumab ozogamicin may result in liver injury. We reviewed the course of 23 patients who were given gemtuzumab ozogamicin for AML that had relapsed after hematopoietic cell transplantation. Liver toxicity was assessed through physical examination, serum tests, histologic examination, and hepatic venous pressure measurements. Liver injury developed in 11 patients after gemtuzumab ozogamicin administration; it was manifested as weight gain, ascites, and jaundice in 7 patients. Seven patients died with persistent liver dysfunction and either multiorgan failure or sepsis at a median of 40 days after gemtuzumab ozogamicin infusion. Portal pressure measurements were elevated in 2 patients. Results of liver histologic examination in 5 patients showed sinusoidal injury with extensive sinusoidal fibrosis, centrilobular congestion, and hepatocyte necrosis. Six patients experienced AML remission that was sustained for at least 60 days after gemtuzumab ozogamicin infusion. In summary, hepatic sinusoidal liver injury developed after gemtuzumab ozogamicin infusion. Histology showed striking deposition of sinusoidal collagen, suggesting that gemtuzumab ozogamicin targets CD33+ cells residing in hepatic sinusoids as the mechanism for its hepatic toxicity.
The clinical and histologic appearance of fibrosis in cutaneous lesions in chronic graft-versus -host disease (c-GVHD) resembles the appearance of fibrosis in scleroderma (SSc). Recent studies ...identified distinctive structural changes in the superficial dermal microvasculature and matrix of SSc skin. We compared the dermal microvasculature in human c-GVHD to SSc to determine if c-GVHD is a suitable model for SSc.
We analyzed skin biopsies of normal controls (n = 24), patients with SSc (n = 30) and c-GVHD with dermal fibrosis (n = 133)). Immunostaining was employed to identify vessels, vascular smooth muscle, dermal matrix, and cell proliferation. C-GVHD and SSc had similar dermal matrix composition and vascular smooth muscle pathology, including intimal hyperplasia. SSc, however, differed significantly from c-GVHD in three ways. First, there were significantly fewer (p = 0.00001) average vessels in SSc biopsies (9.8) when compared with c-GVHD (16.5). Second, in SSc, endothelial markers were decreased significantly (19/19 and 12/14 for VE cadherin and vWF (p = <0.0001 and <0.05), respectively). In contrast, 0/13 c-GVHD biopsies showed loss of staining with canonical endothelial markers. Third, c-GVHD contained areas of microvascular endothelial proliferation not present in the SSc biopsies.
The sclerosis associated with c-GVHD appears to resemble wound healing. Focal capillary proliferation occurs in early c-GVHD. In contrast, loss of canonical endothelial markers and dermal capillaries is seen in SSc, but not in c-GVHD. The loss of VE cadherin in SSc, in particular, may be related to microvascular rarefaction because VE cadherin is necessary for angiogenesis. C-GVHD is a suitable model for studying dermal fibrosis but may not be applicable for studying the microvascular alterations characteristic of SSc.
Liver injury is a frequent, serious complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) following myeloablative preparative regimens. We sought to determine the frequency and severity ...of hepatic injury after nonmyeloablative conditioning and its relationship to outcomes. One hundred ninety-three consecutive patients who received 2 Gy total body irradiation with or without fludarabine were evaluated for end points related to liver injury. Patients with diseases treatable by HCT who were ineligible for conventional myeloablative allogeneic HCT because of advanced age and/or comorbid conditions were included. Fifty-one patients (26%) developed hyperbilirubinemia of 68.4 μM (4 mg/dL) or greater, most commonly resulting from cholestasis due to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) or sepsis. Pretransplantation factors associated with liver dysfunction were a diagnosis of aggressive malignancy (hazard ratio HR 1.9; P = .04) and the inclusion of fludarabine in the conditioning regimen (HR 1.8; P = .07). Overall survival at 1 year was superior for patients who had maximal serum bilirubin levels in the normal (78%) or minimally elevated (22.23-66.69 μM 1.3-3.9 mg/dL) ranges (69%) compared with those in the 68.4 to 117.99 μM (4-6.9 mg/dL; 20%), 119.7 to 169.29 μM (7.0-9.9 mg/dL; 17%), and 171.0 μM (10 mg/dL; 19%) or greater groups. In summary, significant jaundice occurred in 26% of patients and was predominantly due to cholestasis resulting from GVHD and/or sepsis. Aggressive malignancies (mainly advanced disease) and later development of jaundice after transplantation predicted inferior survival.
We analyzed outcomes after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in 257 patients, 3 to 72.7 years old (median, 43 y), with secondary myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) including those with ...transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (tAML). Conditioning regimens included high-dose total-body irradiation (TBI)/chemotherapy (n = 83); busulfan (BU)/cyclophosphamide (CY) (BUCY, n = 122; with BU targeting tBUCY, n = 93); fludarabine (Flu) with tBU (FLUtBU; n = 12); Flu plus 200 cGy TBI (n = 26); and miscellaneous regimens (n = 14). Donors were HLA-identical or partially mismatched family members in 135 and unrelated individuals in 122 patients. Five-year relapse-free survival was highest (43%) and nonrelapse mortality lowest (28%) among tBUCY-conditioned patients. Outcomes were compared with results in 339 patients who received transplants for de novo MDS/tAML, and a multivariate analysis failed to show significant differences in outcome between the 2 cohorts. Relapse probability and relapse-free survival correlated significantly with disease stage (P < .001) and karyotype (P < .001). Relapse incidence was lower (P = .003) and relapse-free survival superior (P = .02) with unrelated donor transplants. The data suggest that overall inferior outcome in patients with secondary MDS/tAML was related to the frequency of high-risk cytogenetics. For both cohorts, transplantation outcomes improved over the time interval studied.
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