Volume 22, Issue 1 e13101
CASE REPORT

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is associated with cure and durable remission of late-onset primary isolated central nervous system hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Sajad Khazal

Corresponding Author

Sajad Khazal

Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

Correspondence

Sajad Khazal, Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.

Email: [email protected]

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Veronika Polishchuk

Veronika Polishchuk

Pediatric Marrow and Blood Cell Transplantation Program, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA

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Gary Soffer

Gary Soffer

Division of Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA

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Samantha Prinzing

Samantha Prinzing

Pediatric Marrow and Blood Cell Transplantation Program, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA

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Jonathan Gill

Jonathan Gill

Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

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Kris M. Mahadeo

Kris M. Mahadeo

Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

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First published: 13 December 2017
Citations: 12

Abstract

Primary isolated CNS presentation of HLH is exceedingly rare and typically associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We describe an adolescent patient with late-onset, primary isolated CNS HLH and a compound heterozygous PRF1 mutation (c50delT (p.L17 fs); c.1229G>C (p.R410P)), not previously reported with this phenotype. He was successfully treated with allogeneic HSCT following a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen, despite a high pre-HSCT comorbidity index. Two years after transplant, he is alive and in disease remission. While patients with systemic HLH and active CNS disease have relatively poorer outcomes, a high index of suspicion may aid with early diagnosis of primary isolated CNS HLH; prompt treatment with HSCT may be associated with improved cure and durable remission of this rare disease.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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