Diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of Diamond-Blackfan anaemia syndrome: international consensus statement.

Diamond-Blackfan anaemia (DBA), first described over 80 years ago, is a congenital disorder of erythropoiesis with a predilection for birth defects and cancer. Despite scientific advances, this chronic, debilitating, and life-limiting disorder continues to cause a substantial physical, psychological, and financial toll on patients and their families. The highly complex medical needs of affected patients require specialised expertise and multidisciplinary care. However, gaps remain in effectively bridging scientific discoveries to clinical practice and disseminating the latest knowledge and best practices to providers. Following the publication of the first international consensus in 2008, advances in our understanding of the genetics, natural history, and clinical management of DBA have strongly supported the need for new consensus recommendations. In 2014 in Freiburg, Germany, a panel of 53 experts including clinicians, diagnosticians, and researchers from 27 countries convened. With support from patient advocates, the panel met repeatedly over subsequent years, engaging in ongoing discussions. These meetings led to the development of new consensus recommendations in 2024, replacing the previous guidelines. To account for the diverse phenotypes including presentation without anaemia, the panel agreed to adopt the term DBA syndrome. We propose new simplified diagnostic criteria, describe the genetics of DBA syndrome and its phenocopies, and introduce major changes in therapeutic standards. These changes include lowering the prednisone maintenance dose to maximum 0·3 mg/kg per day, raising the pre-transfusion haemoglobin to 9-10 g/dL independent of age, recommending early aggressive chelation, broadening indications for haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation, and recommending systematic clinical surveillance including early colorectal cancer screening. In summary, the current practice guidelines standardise the diagnostics, treatment, and long-term surveillance of patients with DBA syndrome of all ages worldwide.

Understanding complex disease-related mechanisms: Rational therapies for Diamond-Blackfan anaemia.

The rich history surrounding Diamond-Blackfan anaemia (DBA), originally described in 1938 as congenital hypoplastic anaemia2 reflects the evolution of paediatric haematology. In their paper, the authors1 present the results of a clinical trial using the thrombopoietin-mimetic agent eltrombopag to treat red cell failure in DBA. A low response rate belies the importance of this work. Commentary on: Duncan et al. Treatment of refractory/relapsed Diamond-Blackfan anaemia with eltrombopag. Br J Haematol 2024;204:2077-2085.

Defects in Bone and Bone Marrow in Inherited Anemias: the Chicken or the Egg.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recently, there has been an increasing number of studies on the crosstalk between the bone and the bone marrow and how it pertains to anemia. Here, we discuss four heritable clinical syndromes contrasting those in which anemia affects bone growth and development, with those in which abnormal bone development results in anemia, highlighting the multifaceted interactions between skeletal development and hematopoiesis. RECENT FINDINGS: Anemia results from both inherited and acquired disorders caused by either impaired production or premature destruction of red blood cells or blood loss. The downstream effects on bone development and growth in patients with anemia often constitute an important part of their clinical condition. We will discuss the interdependence of abnormal bone development and growth and hematopoietic abnormalities, with a focus on the erythroid lineage. To illustrate those points, we selected four heritable anemias that arise from either defective hematopoiesis impacting the skeletal system (the hemoglobinopathies ß-thalassemia and sickle cell disease) versus defective osteogenesis resulting in impaired hematopoiesis (osteopetrosis). Finally, we will discuss recent findings in Diamond Blackfan anemia, an intrinsic disorder of both the erythron and the bone. By focusing on four representative hereditary hematopoietic disorders, this complex relationship between bone and blood should lead to new areas of research in the field.

HMGB1-mediated restriction of EPO signaling contributes to anemia of inflammation.

Anemia of inflammation, also known as anemia of chronic disease, is refractory to erythropoietin (EPO) treatment, but the mechanisms underlying the EPO refractory state are unclear. Here, we demonstrate that high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1), a damage-associated molecular pattern molecule recently implicated in anemia development during sepsis, leads to reduced expansion and increased death of EPO-sensitive erythroid precursors in human models of erythropoiesis. HMGB1 significantly attenuates EPO-mediated phosphorylation of the Janus kinase 2/STAT5 and mTOR signaling pathways. Genetic ablation of receptor for advanced glycation end products, the only known HMGB1 receptor expressed by erythroid precursors, does not rescue the deleterious effects of HMGB1 on EPO signaling, either in human or murine precursors. Furthermore, surface plasmon resonance studies highlight the ability of HMGB1 to interfere with the binding between EPO and the EPOR. Administration of a monoclonal anti-HMGB1 antibody after sepsis onset in mice partially restores EPO signaling in vivo. Thus, HMGB1-mediated restriction of EPO signaling contributes to the chronic phase of anemia of inflammation.

Hematologic complications with age in Shwachman-Diamond syndrome.

Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) is an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome with leukemia predisposition. An understanding of the hematologic complications of SDS with age could guide clinical management, but data are limited for this rare disease. We conducted a cohort study of 153 subjects from 143 families with confirmed biallelic SBDS mutations enrolled on the North American Shwachman Diamond Registry or Bone Marrow Failure Registry. The SBDS c.258 + 2T>C variant was present in all but 1 patient. To evaluate the association between blood counts and age, 2146 blood counts were analyzed for 119 subjects. Absolute neutrophil counts were positively associated with age (P < .0001). Hemoglobin was also positively associated with age up to 18 years (P < .0001), but the association was negative thereafter (P = .0079). Platelet counts and marrow cellularity were negatively associated with age (P < .0001). Marrow cellularity did not correlate with blood counts. Severe marrow failure necessitating transplant developed in 8 subjects at a median age of 1.7 years (range, 0.4-39.5), with 7 of 8 requiring transplant prior to age 8 years. Twenty-six subjects (17%) developed a myeloid malignancy (16 myelodysplasia and 10 acute myeloid leukemia) at a median age of 12.3 years (range, 0.5-45.0) and 28.4 years (range, 14.4-47.3), respectively. A lymphoid malignancy developed in 1 patient at the age of 16.9 years. Hematologic complications were the major cause of mortality (17/20 deaths; 85%). These data inform surveillance of hematologic complications in SDS.

Colorectal cancer screening and surveillance strategy for patients with Diamond Blackfan anemia: Preliminary recommendations from the Diamond Blackfan Anemia Registry.

Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a rare inherited bone marrow failure syndrome characterized by red cell failure, congenital anomalies, poor linear growth, and cancer predisposition. Two previous analyses from the Diamond Blackfan Anemia Registry have quantified DBA as a cancer predisposition syndrome of moderate cancer penetrance. Patients with DBA have a 4.8-fold higher relative risk of developing cancer with an overall cumulative incidence of 13.7% by age 45 years. The two most prevalent solid tumors are colorectal cancer (CRC) and osteogenic sarcoma. Current and evolving data support the institution of cancer screening and surveillance strategies for CRC in DBA.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and the prothrombotic state: Coagulation profiles and rotational thromboelastometry in a MIS-C cohort.

BACKGROUND: Adults infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have had high rates of thrombosis. A novel condition in children infected with SARS-CoV-2, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), has limited data on their prothrombotic state or need for thromboprophylaxis. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyze the prothrombotic state using coagulation profiles, rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) parameters and clinical outcomes, to determine if this could aid in risk stratification for thromboprophylaxis. METHODS: This analysis included patients (<21 years of age) with a diagnosis of MIS-C (n = 40) and controls (presenting with suspicion of MIS-C but later ruled out; n = 26). RESULTS: MIS-C patients had higher levels of inflammatory markers including D-dimer (p < .0001), compared with controls, along with evidence of hypercoagulability on ROTEM with elevated evaluation of fibrinogen activity (FIBTEM) maximum clot firmness (MCF) (p < .05). For MIS-C patients with D-dimers >1000 ng/ml, there was a significant correlation of FIBTEM MCF (p < .0001) with a mean value of 37.4 (standard deviation 5.1). D-dimer >2144 ng/ml was predictive of intensive care unit admission (area under the curve [AUC] 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.60-0.99; p < .01; sensitivity: 82%, specificity: 75%), and elevated FIBTEM MCF (AUC 1 for >2500 ng/ml). MIS-C patients (50%) received enoxaparin thromboprophylaxis (in addition to aspirin) with significant improvement in their inflammatory and ROTEM parameters upon outpatient follow-up; none developed symptomatic thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an observed prothrombotic state, none of the MIS-C patients (on aspirin alone or in combination with enoxaparin) developed symptomatic thrombosis. ROTEM, in addition to coagulation profiles, may be helpful to tailor thromboprophylaxis in critically ill MIS-C patients.

Distinct genetic pathways define pre-malignant versus compensatory clonal hematopoiesis in Shwachman-Diamond syndrome.

To understand the mechanisms that mediate germline genetic leukemia predisposition, we studied the inherited ribosomopathy Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS), a bone marrow failure disorder with high risk of myeloid malignancies at an early age. To define the mechanistic basis of clonal hematopoiesis in SDS, we investigate somatic mutations acquired by patients with SDS followed longitudinally. Here we report that multiple independent somatic hematopoietic clones arise early in life, most commonly harboring heterozygous mutations in EIF6 or TP53. We show that germline SBDS deficiency establishes a fitness constraint that drives selection of somatic clones via two distinct mechanisms with different clinical consequences. EIF6 inactivation mediates a compensatory pathway with limited leukemic potential by ameliorating the underlying SDS ribosome defect and enhancing clone fitness. TP53 mutations define a maladaptive pathway with enhanced leukemic potential by inactivating tumor suppressor checkpoints without correcting the ribosome defect. Subsequent development of leukemia was associated with acquisition of biallelic TP53 alterations. These results mechanistically link leukemia predisposition to germline genetic constraints on cellular fitness, and provide a rational framework for clinical surveillance strategies.

Genotype-phenotype association and variant characterization in Diamond-Blackfan anemia caused by pathogenic variants in RPL35A.

Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) is predominantly an autosomal dominant inherited red cell aplasia primarily caused by pathogenic germline variants in ribosomal protein genes. DBA due to pathogenic RPL35A variants has been associated with large 3q29 deletions and phenotypes not common in DBA. We conducted a multi-institutional genotype-phenotype study of 45 patients with DBA associated with pathogenic RPL35A germline variants and curated the variant data on 21 additional cases from the literature. Genotype-phenotype analyses were conducted comparing patients with large deletions versus all other pathogenic variants in RPL35A. Twenty-two of the 45 cases had large deletions in RPL35A. After adjusting for multiple tests, a statistically significant association was observed between patients with a large deletion and steroid-resistant anemia, neutropenia, craniofacial abnormalities, chronic gastrointestinal problems, and intellectual disabilities (p<0.01) compared with all other pathogenic variants. Non-large deletion pathogenic variants were spread across RPL35A with no apparent hot spot and 56% of the individual family variants were observed more than once. In this, the largest known study of DBA patients with pathogenic RPL35A variants, we determined that patients with large deletions have a more severe phenotype that is clinically different from those with non-large deletion variants. Genes of interest also deleted in the 3q29 region that could be associated with some of these phenotypic features include LMLN and IQCG. Management of DBA due to large RPL35A deletions may be challenging due to complex problems and require comprehensive assessments by multiple specialists including immunologic, gastrointestinal, and developmental evaluations to provide optimal multidisciplinary care.

Early Onset Colorectal Cancer: An Emerging Cancer Risk in Patients with Diamond Blackfan Anemia.

Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a rare inherited bone marrow failure syndrome, the founding member of a class of disorders known as ribosomopathies. Most cases result from loss of function mutations or deletions in 1 of 23 genes encoding either a small or large subunit-associated ribosomal protein (RP), resulting in RP haploinsufficiency. DBA is characterized by red cell hypoplasia or aplasia, poor linear growth and congenital anomalies. Small case series and case reports demonstrate DBA to be a cancer predisposition syndrome. Recent analyses from the Diamond Blackfan Anemia Registry of North America (DBAR) have quantified the cancer risk in DBA. These studies reveal the most prevalent solid tumor, presenting in young adults and in children and adolescents, to be colorectal cancer (CRC) and osteogenic sarcoma, respectively. Of concern is that these cancers are typically detected at an advanced stage in patients who, because of their constitutional bone marrow failure, may not tolerate full-dose chemotherapy. Thus, the inability to provide optimal therapy contributes to poor outcomes. CRC screening in individuals over the age of 50 years, and now 45 years, has led to early detection and significant improvements in outcomes for non-DBA patients with CRC. These screening and surveillance strategies have been adapted to detect familial early onset CRC. With the recognition of DBA as a moderately penetrant cancer risk syndrome a rational screening and surveillance strategy will be implemented. The downstream molecular events, resulting from RP haploinsufficiency and leading to cancer, are the subject of significant scientific inquiry.

L-leucine improves anemia and growth in patients with transfusion-dependent Diamond-Blackfan anemia: Results from a multicenter pilot phase I/II study from the Diamond-Blackfan Anemia Registry.

BACKGROUND: Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome characterized by anemia, short stature, congenital anomalies, and cancer predisposition. Most cases are due to mutations in genes encoding ribosomal proteins (RP) leading to RP haploinsufficiency. Effective treatments for the anemia of DBA include chronic red cell transfusions, long-term corticosteroid therapy, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In a small patient series and in animal models, there have been hematologic responses to L-leucine with amelioration of anemia. The study objectives of this clinical trial were to determine feasibility, safety, and efficacy of L-leucine in transfusion-dependent patients with DBA. PROCEDURE: Patients ≥2 years of age received L-leucine 700 mg/m2 orally three times daily for nine months to determine a hematologic response and any improvement in growth (NCT01362595). RESULTS: This multicenter, phase I/II study enrolled 55 subjects; 43 were evaluable. There were 21 males; the median age at enrollment was 10.4 years (range, 2.5-46.1 years). No significant adverse events were attributable to L-leucine. Two subjects had a complete erythroid response and five had a partial response. Nine of 25, and 11 of 25, subjects experienced a positive weight and height percentile change, respectively, at the end of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: L-leucine is safe, resulted in an erythroid response in 16% of subjects with DBA, and led to an increase in weight and linear growth velocity in 36% and 44% of evaluable subjects, respectively. Further studies will be critical to understand the role of L-leucine in the management of patients with DBA.

Are children with SARS-CoV-2 infection at high risk for thrombosis? Viscoelastic testing and coagulation profiles in a case series of pediatric patients.

The coagulopathy of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is well documented in adults, with increases in D-dimer and prothrombin time found to be strong predictors of mortality, and anticoagulation shown to decrease this mortality. Viscoelastic parameters such as elevations in maximum clot firmness (MCF) on rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) have correlated with a hypercoagulable state in adults with SARS-CoV-2. We report our experience in children infected with SARS-CoV-2, with noted elevations in D-dimer and MCF on ROTEM (indicating hypercoagulability). Exploration of viscoelastic testing to provide additional laboratory-based evidence for pediatric-specific risk assessment for thromboprophylaxis in SARS-CoV-2 is warranted.

A study assessing the feasibility of randomization of pediatric and young adult patients between matched unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation and immune-suppressive therapy for newly diagnosed severe aplastic anemia: A joint pilot trial of the North American Pediatric Aplastic Anemia Consortium and the Pediatric Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Consortium.

BACKGROUND: Recent data show survival after matched unrelated donor (MUD) bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is similar to matched sibling procedures for young patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Donor delays, risk of transplant-related mortality (TRM), and concern about chronic graft versus host disease raise questions about whether MUD BMT or immune suppression therapy (IST) should be preferred initial therapy for young patients lacking matched sibling donors. PROCEDURE: We performed a pilot trial to assess the feasibility of randomizing patients under age 26 with newly diagnosed SAA to receive IST versus MUD BMT. Primary aims assessed the acceptability of randomization and timing of BMT. Secondary aims measured toxicities, response, and survival. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients with possible SAA were screened at nine centers. Of 57 with confirmed SAA, 23 underwent randomization and received therapy with a median follow-up of 18 months. Of 12 randomized to BMT, 10 started BMT as initial therapy at a median of 36 days after randomization. One BMT recipient experienced secondary graft failure, requiring a second procedure. Six of 11 randomized to IST responded, whereas five with refractory disease underwent successful salvage BMT. One patient achieving complete response relapsed after discontinuation of immune suppression and died of infection after salvage BMT. CONCLUSIONS: This feasibility study showed that a high percentage of patients underwent randomization and received up-front MUD BMT. Our study lays the groundwork for a larger randomized trial that will define best initial therapy for young patients with SAA who have an available MUD.

The use of anakinra in the treatment of secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

BACKGROUND: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) can be familial or secondary, which is often triggered by infection or malignancy. HLH therapy includes dexamethasone and etoposide. However, therapy is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Anakinra, a recombinant interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, has been reported to treat macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), rheumatic sHLH. We report our experience with anakinra to treat patients with nonrheumatic secondary HLH (sHLH). PROCEDURE: Six children were diagnosed with HLH from December 2014 to August 2016 and were treated with subcutaneous anakinra (6-10 mg/kg/day divided over four doses) with or without dexamethasone (10 mg/m2 /day). Therapy was either escalated or weaned based on clinical and laboratory response. RESULTS: Five of six patients were treated with anakinra and dexamethasone, and one with anakinra alone due to active cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonitis. The median age of diagnosis was 1.8 years (range 0.8-14.9 years). No pathogenic mutations associated with HLH were identified, but three of six possessed genetic variants of unknown significance. Infectious triggers were identified for four patients and two patients had malignancies. The average treatment duration was 8 weeks with 3.5-5.5 years of follow up. No patient needed escalation of therapy to include etoposide. All patients achieved remission. Anakinra was well tolerated without significant adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Initial treatment with anakinra (with or without dexamethasone) is a feasible treatment alternative for patients with secondary HLH and may allow for avoidance of etoposide. We recommend early initiation of anakinra when HLH is suspected. A broader investigation of the use of anakinra as a first-line agent for HLH is ongoing.

Steroid resistance in Diamond Blackfan anemia associates with p57Kip2 dysregulation in erythroid progenitors.

Despite the effective clinical use of steroids for the treatment of Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA), the mechanisms through which glucocorticoids regulate human erythropoiesis remain poorly understood. We report that the sensitivity of erythroid differentiation to dexamethasone is dependent on the developmental origin of human CD34+ progenitor cells, specifically increasing the expansion of CD34+ progenitors from peripheral blood (PB) but not cord blood (CB). Dexamethasone treatment of erythroid-differentiated PB, but not CB, CD34+ progenitors resulted in the expansion of a newly defined CD34+CD36+CD71hiCD105med immature colony-forming unit-erythroid (CFU-E) population. Furthermore, proteomics analyses revealed the induction of distinct proteins in dexamethasone-treated PB and CB erythroid progenitors. Dexamethasone treatment of PB progenitors resulted in the specific upregulation of p57Kip2, a Cip/Kip cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, and we identified this induction as critical; shRNA-mediated downregulation of p57Kip2, but not the related p27Kip1, significantly attenuated the impact of dexamethasone on erythroid differentiation and inhibited the expansion of the immature CFU-E subset. Notably, in the context of DBA, we found that steroid resistance was associated with dysregulated p57Kip2 expression. Altogether, these data identify a unique glucocorticoid-responsive human erythroid progenitor and provide new insights into glucocorticoid-based therapeutic strategies for the treatment of patients with DBA.