No abstract

We report a patient with Langerhans-cell histiocytosis (LCH) localized to the hard palate that was later proven to be associated with Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD), involving the right breast, skeleton, retroperitoneum and left orbit. The diagnosis was based on the symmetric osteosclerosis of the long bones diaphyses (tibias and fibulas), breast lump histopathological/immunohistochemical findings and retroperitoneum and left orbit images in magnetic resonance. Mammary involvement by ECD is an extremely rare condition, which should be differentiated from some benign and malignant mimickers, especially the histiocytoid type of breast carcinoma. Characteristic histological features plus clinical and radiographic information are needed to achieve a correct diagnosis. The ECD, its relation to the LCH and details of the breast lesion are discussed.

Background We conducted an investigator-driven, multicenter, open label, randomized study to establish whether the source of factor VIII (FVIII) replacement (plasma-derived, pd; or recombinant, r) affects the rate of inhibitory alloantibodies in previously untreated patients (PUPs) with severe hemophilia A. Methods Between 2010 and 2014, 303 PUPs who provided consent through their tutors were screened at 42 participating sites in 14 countries from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe. The original aim was to screen 300 patients, randomize 270 (10% screening failure) and follow them for 50 exposure days (ED) or 3 years. Once the intended numbers were included, follow-up was terminated due to logistic and budgetary reasons. Screening criteria were age <6 yrs, plasma FVIII activity <1%, no previous treatment with FVIII concentrates, minimal exposure (less than 5 times) to blood components. Eligible patients were 1:1 block-randomized to a FVIII source class and exclusively treated with a single pd- or rFVIII product, that within each class was allocated on the basis of site licensing and availability. Patients were monitored for inhibitor onset at pre-established and frequent time intervals. Primary outcome was any FVIII inhibitor at titres ≥0.4 BU/ml as assayed centrally. High-titred inhibitors (peak levels >5 BU/ml) were a secondary outcome. Patients were censored at the end of the follow-up (50 EDs, 3 years or study end), at inhibitor development or drop-out. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression survival analyses took into account as putative confounders FVIII gene mutations, ethnicity, hemophilia and inhibitor family history, previous blood component exposure, therapeutic regimen, age at first treatment and country site. Results Of 303 screened patients, 39 were screening failures, and 13 were excluded because 3 patients had received >5 treatments with blood components and 10 were not infused after randomization. The remaining 251 patients were analysed and 35 had truncated follow-up (25 dropout, 10 study termination). Patients were aged 0-81 months at randomization (median 14 months) and received between 1 and 50 infusions of FVIII concentrates (median 22). Of those who did not develop an inhibitor, over 70% had >20 ED. 76 patients developed an inhibitor, of which 50 were high-titred. The cumulative inhibitor incidence was 35.4% (95% confidence interval (CI95) 28.9-41.9%). 90% of inhibitors developed within 20 EDs, both for all and high-titre inhibitors. After randomization 125 patients received pdFVIII and 126 rFVIII. The putative confounders were equally divided between the two product class arms. There were 29 inhibitors (20 high-titred) in the group treated with the class of pdFVIII and 47 (30 high-titred) in those treated with rFVIII. The cumulative inhibitor incidence was 26.7% (CI95 18.3-35.1%) for pdFVIII and 44.5% (CI95 34.7-54.3%) for rFVIII (Figure). For high-titre inhibitors the cumulative incidence was 18.5% (CI95 12.1-26.9%) for pdFVIII and 28.4% (CI95 19.6-37.2%) for rFVIII. By univariate Cox regression analysis rFVIII was associated with an 87% higher incidence of inhibitors than pdFVIII (hazard ratio (HR) 1.87, CI95 1.18-2.97). For high-titre inhibitors the rate was 70% increased (HR 1.70, CI95 0.96-2.99). The associations did not materially change after adjustment for putative confounders: in adjusted models the rate remained 70-90% elevated for rFVIII vs pdFVIII. When analysis was restricted to sites that had not randomized patients to a second generation full length rFVIII or pdFVIII (n=131 patients, 25 inhibitors), the risk of other rFVIII concentrates vs pdFVIII was still twofold increased (HR 1.99, CI95 1.00-3.99). Conclusions The rFVIII product class was associated with a 1.87-fold higher incidence of inhibitors than the pdFVIII class. This difference remained even when second generation full length rFVIII concentrate was excluded from the analyses. The results of this randomized study have implications in the choice of product for management of PUPs, as inhibitor development remains a major challenge in the management of haemophilia A. (Funded by the Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Foundation, Italian Ministry of Health, Grifols, Kedrion and LFB - Registed at EudraCT 2009-001186-88). Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures Peyvandi: Octapharma: Other: Investigator; LFB, Kedrion, Novonordisk, Bayer, Roche, CSL Behring.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Mannucci:Novonordisk, Grifols, Kedrion, Bayer, Biotest, Baxalta: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Karimi:Octapharma: Other: Investigator. Young:Baxter, Grifols: Consultancy, Honoraria. Santagostino:Roche: Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Speakers Bureau; Baxter/Baxalta: Speakers Bureau; Octapharma: Speakers Bureau; Biotest: Speakers Bureau; Novo Nordisk: Speakers Bureau; Kedrion: Speakers Bureau; Biogen/Sobi: Speakers Bureau; CSL Behring: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Mancuso:Baxter, Pfizer, CSL Behring, Baxter, Sobi/Biotest: Consultancy; Novo Nordisk, Bayer: Speakers Bureau. Mahlangu:Biogen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; CSL Behring: Research Funding; NovoNordisk: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Biotest: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Bonanad:Baxalta: Research Funding. Ewing:Baxter, Novo Nordisk, Grifols, Bayer, Kedrion: Honoraria. Owaidah:King abdulaziz city for science, Novo Nordisk, Bayer: Honoraria, Research Funding. Kobrinsky:Octapharma: Speakers Bureau; CSL Behring: Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Speakers Bureau; Kedrion Biopharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kavakli:Baxter: Other: advisory board member and received educational and investigational support; Bayer: Other: advisory board member and received educational and investigational support; Novo Nordisk: Other: advisory board member and received educational and investigational support; Pfizer: Other: advisory board member and received educational and investigational support; Bio Products Laboratory: Other: received educational and investigational support; CSL Behring: Other: received educational and investigational support; Octapharma: Other: received educational and investigational support. Manco-Johnson:Baxter, bayer, biogen, CSL Behring, NovoNordish: Honoraria. Neme:Novo Nordisk and Pfizer: Other: fees for speaking. Wicklund:NovoNordisk, Bayer, Baxter (now Baxalta), Biogen-Idec, CSL-Behring, National Hemophilia Foundation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Zulfikar:Eczacýbaþý-Baxter, Pfizer, Novo Nordisk: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.

Previous cross-sectional studies showed that some patients with haemophilia A (HA) without inhibitor presented a pro-inflammatory profile during factor VIII (FVIII) replacement therapy. Furthermore, an anti-inflammatory/regulatory state was described in HA patients after inhibitor development. However, no study investigated the levels of these biomarkers before exposure to exogenous FVIII. This study investigated the immunological profile of previously untreated patients (PUPs) with HA in comparison with non-haemophiliac boys. A panel of chemokines and cytokines was evaluated in the plasma of 40 PUPs with HA and 47 healthy controls. The presence of microparticles was assessed in the plasma of 32 PUPs with HA and 47 healthy controls. PUPs with HA presented higher levels of CXCL8 (IL8), IL6, IL4, IL10, IL2, IL17A (IL17), and lower levels of CXCL10 (IP-10) and CCL2 (MCP-1) than the age-matched healthy controls (P < 0·05). We also observed higher levels of microparticles derived from endothelium, erythrocytes, platelets, leucocytes, neutrophils, and T lymphocytes in patients in comparison with controls (P < 0·05). Compared with controls, PUPs with HA presented a distinct immunological profile, characterized by a prominent pro-inflammatory status that appears to be regulated by IL4 and IL10.

Introduction von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder. Few studies have explored the molecular basis of type 2 VWD. Aim This study aimed to identify variants associated with type 2 VWD. Methods We collected clinical and laboratory data, as well as response to desmopressin and bleeding assessment tool (BAT) score in patients diagnosed with type 2 VWD. We sequenced exons 17, 18, 20 and 28 of the VWF gene. Results We identified 19 different variants in 40 unrelated patients (47.5%). Most of the variants (84.2%) were found in exon 28. A total of 10/19 variants (52.6%) were identified as “likely causative” in 17/40 patients (42.5%), according to the ISTH‐SSC and EAHAD VWF gene mutations databases. Nine variants were initially identified as potentially benign. However, through analyses in silico, four of these variants were reclassified as “likely pathogenic” (Ile1380Val, Asn1435Ser, Ser1486Leu and Tyr1584Cys). Response to desmopressin was associated with three variants: Met740Ile, Arg1597Gln and Tyr1584Cys. Major bleeding was associated with variants related to VWD subtypes 2B and 2M. Conclusion In conclusion, we identified 19 variants, of which 14 are “likely pathogenic” and therefore associated with VWD. We suggest a possible association of pathogenic variants with major bleeding, response to desmopressin and BAT score ≥10, although this requires further confirmation.