melphalan and Agammaglobulinemia

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is an inborn error of immunity caused by variants in Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). XLA patients require lifelong immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IgRT). Only few XLA patients are indicated for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) because of severe complications. Accordingly, the published transplantation experience in XLA is minimal. We aimed to collect clinical data of XLA patients who received HCT in an international framework and to establish appropriate transplantation criteria and methods for XLA patients.. XLA patients were recruited through a questionnaire and a literature review. The data are on patient characteristics and transplantation methods and outcomes.. In this study, twenty-two XLA patients who underwent HCT were recruited. The indication for HCT was recurrent or life-threatening infection in sixteen patients, malignancy in three, and other factors in three. A myeloablative conditioning, reduced toxicity myeloablative conditioning (RT-MAC), and reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) were selected in four, ten, and eight patients, respectively. Engraftment was achieved in 21 patients (95%). In all patients, 2-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were 86% and 77%, respectively. In patients who received RT-MAC or RIC using treosulfan, busulfan, or melphalan, 2-year OS and EFS were 82% and 71%, respectively. Finally, twenty-one patients (95%) obtained complete or stable high-level mixed chimerism (50-95%), and the 1-year discontinuation rate of IgRT was 89%.. Based on the concept in which IgRT is the standard treatment for XLA, HCT may be an effective and safe alternative treatment option for XLA patients, and IgRT can be discontinued following transplantation. It is ideal to perform HCT in XLA patients for whom transplantation is indicated before they develop organ damage.

Topics: Agammaglobulinemia; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked; Graft vs Host Disease; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Melphalan; Transplantation Conditioning

Two women are described in whom, on the basis of prior therapy for breast cancer and the presence of painful, lytic bone lesions, an initial diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer was made. Further evaluation established the diagnosis of multiple myeloma in both patients. Neither had evidence of recurrent breast cancer. These cases indicate that women with a history of breast cancer in whom lytic bone lesions develop without evidence of extraskeletal metastases should have the diagnosis of multiple myeloma excluded.

Topics: Agammaglobulinemia; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bone Marrow; Bone Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary; Prednisone; Radiography

Described here is a 59 year old man with dermatomyositis and hypogammaglobulinemia. His muscle power improved after corticosteroid therapy, but extensive amyloidosis and repeated infections appeared. Bone marrow morphology suggested multiple myeloma, but treatment with cytotoxic drugs had no beneficial effect on the amyloidosis. Because of rapid progression of the amyloidosis and further infections, cytotoxic drug therapy was stopped, corticosteroid dosage was decreased, and supplementary immunoglobulin therapy was instituted. The infections occurred less frequently and the amyloidosis appeared to regress. This case suggests that immunosuppressive therapy may exacerbate amyloidosis. The literature is reviewed, and the possible role of humoral immunodeficiency in the pathogenesis of amyloidosis is discussed. It is suggested that supplementary immunoglobulin may be beneficial in amyloidosis.

Topics: Agammaglobulinemia; Amyloidosis; Bence Jones Protein; Dermatomyositis; gamma-Globulins; Humans; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Male; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma; Prednisone; Procarbazine; Sepsis; Skin Tests

Topics: Agammaglobulinemia; Antibodies; Antigens, Bacterial; Blood Protein Disorders; Blood Proteins; Busulfan; Chlorambucil; Electrophoresis, Paper; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Immunoelectrophoresis; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulins; Immunosuppression Therapy; Leukemia; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Leukemia, Myeloid; Mannomustine; Melphalan; Primary Myelofibrosis; Radiation Effects; Saliva; Skin Tests; Spleen; Time Factors

Topics: Agammaglobulinemia; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bence Jones Protein; Blood Cells; Blood Transfusion; Bone Marrow Cells; Humans; Leukemia, Plasma Cell; Male; Melphalan; Microscopy, Electron; Prednisone