Unusual Polyclonal IgM in an IgG Deficient Patient with Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome: A Case Study and Literature Review.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare genetic disease caused germline mutation of FAS gene, gene encoding Fas ligand or Caspase 10 gene. However, in 20% of all ALPS patients, genetic defect is unknown. We presented a case of a 20-year-old male with a history of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS; confirmed by genetic study) who came to our medical center with a concern for malignancy. Although no malignancy was detected, his lack of IgA, very low level of IgG (requiring therapy with intravenous IgG) and highly elevated polyclonal IgM (hyperimmunoglobulin M syndrome) were unusual findings because ALPS patients with hypergammaglobulinemia usually demonstrate elevated IgA or IgG.

A unique phenotype of longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis in autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome.

A 49-year-old patient with a history of lymphoproliferation and autoimmune cytopenias presented with unexplained longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis. Flow cytometry on peripheral blood showed an elevated level of double negative T lymphocytes, a finding typical for autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS). Inborn error of immunity (IEI) gene panel demonstrated a heterozygous variant in the FAS gene (c.857G > A, p.(Gly286Glu)), formally confirming the diagnosis. Autoimmune neurological conditions in a context of predisposition for infection and lymphoproliferation should raise suspicion of IEI. Specific testing for ALPS should be considered in patients with a history of non-malignant lymphoproliferation, multilineage cytopenias and unexplained autoimmune (neurological) manifestations.

Type I interferon activation in RAS-associated autoimmune leukoproliferative disease (RALD).

RAS-associated autoimmune leukoproliferative disease (RALD) is a rare immune dysregulation syndrome caused by somatic gain-of-function mutations of either NRAS or KRAS gene in hematopoietic cells. We describe a 27-year-old patient presenting at 5 months of age with recurrent infections and generalized lymphadenopathy who developed a complex multi-organ autoimmune syndrome with hypogammaglobulinemia, partially controlled with oral steroids, hydroxichloroquine, mofetil mycophenolate and IVIG prophylaxis. Activation of type I interferon pathway was observed in peripheral blood. Since 18 years of age, the patient developed regenerative nodular hyperplasia of the liver evolving into hepatopulmonary syndrome. Whole exome sequencing analysis of the peripheral blood DNA showed the NRAS p.Gly13Asp mutation validated as somatic. Our report highlights the possibility of detecting somatic NRAS gene mutations in patients with inflammatory immune dysregulation and type I interferon activation.

Underlying CTLA4 Deficiency in a Patient With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome Features Successfully Treated With Abatacept-A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Functional variants of the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA4) could contribute to the pathogenesis of disorders characterized by abnormal T-cell responses. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 13-year-old girl who first presented with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis poorly responsive to treatment. During the following years the patient developed cytopenias, chronic lymphoproliferation, high values of T-cell receptor αß+ CD4- CD8- double-negative T cells and defective Fas-mediated T cells apoptosis. Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome was diagnosed and therapy with mycophenolate mofetil was started, with good hematological control. Due to the persistence of active polyarthritis, mycophenolate mofetil was replaced with sirolimus. In the following months the patient developed hypogammaglobulinemia and started having severe diarrhea. Histologically, duodenitis and chronic gastritis were present. Using the next generation sequencing-based gene panel screening, a CTLA4 mutation was detected (p.Cys58Serfs*13). At the age of 21 the patient developed acute autoimmune hemolytic anemia; steroid treatment in combination with abatacept were started with clinical remission of all symptoms, even arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted immunologic screening and appropriate genetic tests could help in the diagnosis of a specific genetically mediated immune dysregulation syndrome, allowing to select those patients who can take advantage of target therapy, as in the case of abatacept in CTLA4 deficiency.

Unraveling subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma: An association between subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma, autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, and familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Germline HAVCR2 mutations, recently identified in a large subset of patients with subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL), are associated with an increased risk of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Discovery of this heritable HLH/SPTCL diathesis has expanded our understanding of a rare and molecularly heterogeneous lymphoma. Furthermore, patients with SPTCL have excellent survival unless they develop HLH. Therefore, through compiling data on SPTCL-related conditions that predispose patients to HLH, we are better able to predict which patients with SPTCL have the greatest risk of mortality. We present the first case of SPTCL with concomitant HLH and autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) in a patient who was subsequently diagnosed with familial HLH (F-HLH) attributable to a germline STXBP2 splice-site mutation. She had wild-type HAVCR2. Reports including ours show how SPTCL can evolve in the setting of an exaggerated host inflammatory response attributable to a variety of unusual underlying etiologies.

Neonatal Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome: A Case Report and A Brief Review.

The authors are reporting a case of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome in a newborn who presented with massive hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, and anemia at birth. Antenatal ultrasound revealed a fetus with hepatosplenomegaly. The infant was treated with steroids and sirolimus and is doing well at 4 years of age. This is the first case report of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome presenting as hepatosplenomegaly during fetal life.

Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome in Children with Nonmalignant Organomegaly, Chronic Immune Cytopenia, and Newly Diagnosed Lymphoma

This study investigated the frequency of and predictive factors for autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) in children with lymphoma, chronic immune cytopenia, and nonmalignant organomegaly. Thirty-four children with suspected ALPS (n=13, lymphoma; n=12, immune cytopenia; n=9, nonmalignant organomegaly) were included. Double-negative T-cells, lymphocyte apoptosis, and genetic findings were analyzed. Patients were stratified into two groups as proven/probable ALPS and clinically suspected patients according to the ALPS diagnostic criteria. Of the 34 patients, 18 (53%) were diagnosed with proven/probable ALPS. One patient had a mutation (c.652-2A>C) in the FAS gene. The remaining 16 (47%) patients were defined as clinically suspected patients. Predictive factors for ALPS were anemia and thrombocytopenia in patients with lymphoma, splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy in patients with immune cytopenia, and young age in patients with nonmalignant organomegaly. ALPS may not be rare in certain risk groups. Our study indicates that screening for ALPS may be useful in children having lymphoma with cytopenia at diagnosis, in those having nonmalignant organomegaly with immune cytopenia, and in those having chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura or autoimmune hemolytic anemia with organomegaly developing during follow-up.

Causes of double-negative T-cell lymphocytosis in children and adults.

AIMS: The causes and diagnosis of 'double-negative' (CD3+CD4-CD8-) T-cell lymphocytosis are not well studied. We aimed to define the causes of double-negative T-cell lymphocytosis in children and adults, and to identify simple clinical and laboratory features that would help to differentiate between the underlying conditions. METHODS: We collected clinical and laboratory data on 10 children and 30 adults with significantly increased peripheral-blood double-negative T-cells (>10% of total lymphocytes). We identified conditions associated with double-negative T-lymphocytosis with flow cytometry, peripheral-blood morphology and T-cell receptor-gene rearrangement studies. Patients were assigned to diagnostic categories on the basis of these test results. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The causes of double-negative T-cell lymphocytosis in children were autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) and reactive γ/δ Τ-lymphocytosis. T-cell large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) leukaemia, reactive γ/δ T-lymphocytosis and hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTL) were the the most common disorders underlying double-negative T-cell lymphocytosis in adults. Less common causes included hypereosinophilic syndrome, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, ALPS and monoclonal, double-negative T-lymphocytosis of uncertain significance. CD5/CD7/Vδ2 expression and absolute double-negative lymphocyte count (<1.8×109/L) were useful discriminators for distinguishing patients with reactive γ/δ T-lymphocytosis from those with γ/δ lymphoproliferative disorders. Differentiating between γ/δ T-LGL and HSTL can be difficult. Expression of CD57 and cellular morphology (pale cytoplasm with distinct granules) would support a diagnosis of γ/δ T-LGL.

18F-FDG PET Imaging Features of Patients With Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare immune dysregulatory condition, usually presenting in childhood with massive lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and an increased incidence of lymphoma. Methods to differentiate between benign ALPS adenopathy and lymphoma are needed. To this end, we evaluated the usefulness of FDG PET. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 76 ALPS/ALPS-like patients including FS-7-associated surface antigen (FAS) germline mutation with (n = 4) and without lymphoma (n = 50), FAS-somatic (n = 6), ALPS-unknown (n = 6), and others (n = 10) who underwent FDG PET. Uptakes in 14 nodal sites, liver, and spleen were determined. RESULTS: In 76 ALPS patients, FDG PET showed uptake in multiple nodal sites in all but 1 patient. The highest SUVmax values in FAS mutation without lymphoma, FAS mutation with lymphoma, FAS somatic, ALPS-unknown, and other genetic mutations were a median (range) 9.2 (4.3-25), 16.2 (10.7-37.2), 7.6 (4.6-18.1), 11.5 (4.8-17.2), and 5.5 (0-15.3), respectively. Differences between uptake in the FAS group with and without lymphoma were statistically significant, but overlapped, making discrimination between individuals with/without lymphoma impossible. The spleen:liver uptake ratio was greater than 1 in 82% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: While statistically significant differences were observed in FAS mutation ALPS with and without lymphoma, the significant overlap in FDG uptake and visual appearance in many patients prevents discrimination between patients with and without lymphoma. Similar patterns of FDG biodistribution were noted between the various ALPS subgroups.

A Spectrum of Clinical Findings from ALPS to CVID: Several Novel LRBA Defects.

INTRODUCTION: Autosomal recessively inherited lipopolysaccharide-responsive beige-like anchor (LRBA) protein deficiency was shown to be responsible for different types of inborn errors of immunity, such as common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS). The aim of this study was to compare patients with LRBA-related ALPS and LRBA-related CVID, to describe their clinical and laboratory phenotypes, and to prepare an algorithm for their diagnosis and management. METHODS: Fifteen LRBA-deficient patients were identified among 31 CVID and 14 possible ALPS patients with Western blotting (WB), primary immunodeficiency disease (PIDD) gene, next-generation panel screening (NGS), and whole exome sequencing (WES). RESULTS: The median age on admission and age of diagnosis were 7 years (0.3-16.5) and 11 years (5-44), respectively. Splenomegaly was seen in 93.3% (14/15) of the patients on admission. Splenectomy was performed to 1/5. Recurrent upper respiratory tract infections (93.3% (14/15)), autoimmune cytopenia (80% (12/15)), chronic diarrhea (53.3% (8/15)), lower respiratory tract infections (53.3% (8/15)), lymphoma (26.6% (4/15)), Evans syndrome (26.6% (4/15)), and autoimmune thyroiditis (20% (3/15)) were common clinical findings and diseases. Lymphopenia (5/15), intermittant neutropenia (4/15), eosinophilia (4/15), and progressive hypogammaglobulinemia are recorded in given number of patients. Double negative T cells (TCRαß+CD4-CD8-) were increased in 80% (8/10) of the patients. B cell percentage/numbers were low in 60% (9/15) of the patients on admission. Decreased switched memory B cells, decreased naive and recent thymic emigrant (RTE) Thelper (Th) cells, markedly increased effector memory/effector memory RA+ (TEMRA) Th were documented. Large PD1+ population, increased memory, and enlarged follicular helper T cell population in the CD4+ T cell compartment was seen in one of the patients. Most of the deleterious missense mutations were located in the DUF1088 and BEACH domains. Interestingly, one of the two siblings with the same homozygous LRBA defect did not have any clinical symptom. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was performed to 7/15 (46.6%) of the patients. Transplanted patients are alive and well after a median of 2 years (1-3). In total, one patient died from sepsis during adulthood before HSCT. CONCLUSION: Patients with LRBA deficiency may initially be diagnosed as CVID or ALPS in the clinical practice. Progressive decrease in B cells as well as IgG in ALPS-like patients and addition of IBD symptoms in the follow-up should raise the suspicion for LRBA deficiency. Decreased switched memory B cells, decreased naive and recent thymic emigrant (RTE) Th cells, and markedly increased effector memory/effector memory RA+ Th cells (TEMRA Th) cells are important for the diagnosis of the patients in addition to clinical features. Analysis of protein by either WB or flow cytometry is required when the clinicians come across especially with missense LRBA variants of uncertain significance. High rate of malignancy shows the regulatory T cell's important role of immune surveillance. HSCT is curative and succesful in patients with HLA-matched family donor.

Paradoxical CD4 Lymphopenia in Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS).

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is caused by germline or somatic loss of function FAS mutations resulting in impaired apoptosis and consequent expansion of T-lymphocytes causing organomegaly and autoimmune anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Herein, we report on a case of disseminated varicella zoster infection after post-partum vaccination in a patient found to have CD4 lymphopenia and eventually diagnosed with ALPS caused by a novel germline missense mutation in FAS death-domain. A subsequent retrospective analysis of 169 patients of the NIH ALPS-FAS cohort, revealed that CD4-T-cells lymphopenia (< 300 cells/µl) may occur in 5% of ALPS-FAS patients irrespectively of the underlying genetic defect, organomegaly or immunosuppressive treatment. Although immunophenotyping did not show depletion of specific CD4-T-cells subpopulations, CD4-lymphopenic ALPS-FAS subjects had an expansion of a subset of circulating T-follicular-helper (cTfh) cells, associated with autoantibody production (CCR7lowPD-1high). Furthermore, autoantibodies binding on CD4-T-cells were detected in 50% of the CD4-lymphopenic ALPS-FAS patients and caused cytotoxicity in a natural killer (NK)-mediated antibody-dependent-cellular cytotoxicity assay. Such autoantibodies can therefore be associated with CD4-T-cell death, impaired activation induced proliferation or impaired trafficking. The expansion of autoreactive T-cells in ALPS-FAS is known to be associated with autoimmune clinical manifestations, however our study reveals that ALPS-FAS can also be associated with a paradoxical depletion of CD4-T-cells due to the presence of autoantibodies on the surface of CD4-T-cells which can in turn result in increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections. These novel findings have implications for the diagnosis, clinical monitoring, and management of patients with ALPS-FAS.

[Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome. Update and review]. / Síndrome linfoproliferativo autoinmune. Actualización y revisión.

The autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is an inborn immunity error, which is the result of a heterogeneous group of mutations in the genes that regulate the apoptosis phenomenon. It typically appears in the first years of life. The most common clinical signs are lymphoid expansion with lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly; immune disease with different types of cytopenia, including thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, and lymphoma. The lab abnormalities that facilitate the diagnosis of ALPS include the presence of double negative alpha/beta T cells, high interleukin levels, vitamin B12 in the blood, and FAS-mediated defective apoptosis in the in vitro assay. The treatment of ALPS is focused on three aspects: The treatment of the manifestations of the disease, the prevention/treatment of complications, and the curative treatment (hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation [HPCT]). The use of immunosuppressive therapy is suggested only for severe complications of lymphoproliferation or concomitant autoimmune manifestations. Splenectomy is not recommended for autoimmune manifestations in patients with ALPS. HPCT is reserved for selected patients. The survival rate to 50 years is estimated at 85% for patients with FAS deficiency.

El síndrome linfoproliferativo autoinmune (ALPS, autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome) es un error innato de la inmunidad, resultado de un grupo heterogéneo de alteraciones en los genes que regulan el fenómeno de apoptosis. Se manifiesta típicamente en los primeros años de vida. Las manifestaciones clínicas más comunes son la expansión linfoide con linfadenopatía, esplenomegalia y hepatomegalia, enfermedad autoinmune con citopenias, incluyendo trombocitopenia y anemia hemolítica, así como linfoma. Las anomalías de laboratorio que facilitan el diagnóstico de ALPS incluyen presencia de células alfa-beta T doble negativas, niveles elevados de interleucina 10, vitamina B12 en sangre y apoptosis defectuosa mediada por FAS en ensayo in vitro. El tratamiento de ALPS se centra en tres aspectos: el tratamiento de las manifestaciones de la enfermedad, la prevención y tratamiento de las complicaciones y el tratamiento curativo (trasplante de células progenitoras hematopoyéticas [TCPH]). Se sugiere el uso de tratamiento inmunosupresor solo para las complicaciones graves de la linfoproliferación o manifestaciones autoinmunes concomitantes. La esplenectomía no se recomienda para las manifestaciones autoinmunes en pacientes con ALPS. El TCPH se reserva para pacientes seleccionados. La tasa de supervivencia a 50 años se estima en 85 % para los pacientes con deficiencia de FAS.

Enfermedad linfoproliferativa asociada a artritis reumatoide: reporte de tres casos / Lymphoproliferative disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis: report of three cases

Las investigaciones en la última década han demostrado que el riesgo de desarrollar linfoma en pacientes con artritis reumatoide es el doble que el riesgo de la población general. Sin embargo, no se cuenta con datos de la magnitud de este problema en Cuba. Se presentan los casos de tres pacientes con diagnóstico de artritis reumatoide seropositiva tratadas con metotrexate, que durante su evolución desarrollaron linfoma no Hodgkin. Las pacientes recibieron quimioterapia de primera línea y alcanzaron remisión total con supervivencia de tres años hasta el momento. El diagnóstico de las enfermedades linfoproliferativas en pacientes con artritis reumatoide es un desafío; por lo que es necesario un elevado índice de sospecha que, en ausencia de marcadores fiables de linfomagénesis, permita el manejo oportuno de estos pacientes(AU)

Research in the last decade has shown that the risk of developing lymphoma in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is twice the risk of the general population. However, there is not data on the magnitude of this problem in Cuba.We present the cases of three patients with a diagnosis of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate who during their evolution developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.The patients received first-line chemotherapy and they achieved total remission with three-year survival so far.The diagnosis of lymphoproliferative diseases in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is a challenge; therefore, a high index of suspicion is necessary that, in the absence of reliable markers of lymphomagenesis, allows the timely management of these patients(AU)

Cutaneous involvement in an 8-year-old boy with Ras-associated autoimmune leucoproliferative disorder (RALD).

Ras-associated autoimmune leucoproliferative disorder (RALD) is a nonmalignant syndrome associated with somatic KRAS mutations. We report a patient with RALD and cutaneous lesions, the first such case reported, to our knowledge. An 8-year-old boy presented with erythematous plaques on his face and body, along with lymphadenopathies and spleen enlargement without systemic symptoms. An increased number of monocytes were found in skin biopsy, peripheral blood and bone marrow (BM). Juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML) was suspected. Genetic study using peripheral blood showed no mutations in the KRAS, PTPN11, NRAS, CBL or BCR-ABL genes, but bone marrow analysis revealed a mutation (p-G12S/c.34 G>A) in the KRAS gene. The karyotype was normal. No KRAS mutations were found using molecular analysis of saliva. The diagnosis of RALD was proposed. The differential diagnosis between RALD and JMML is challenging because there are no established criteria to differentiate between them. The clinical course of RALD is uncertain, so long-term follow-up is recommended.