Butterfield, Joseph H.

Abstract Background: The International Consensus Classification (ICC) for systemic mastocytosis (SM) recognizes mast cell leukemia (MCL) and SM with associated myeloid neoplasm (SM-AMN) as distinct categories of advanced SM (SM-Adv; Arber et al. Blood 2022;140:1200). Contemporary risk models in SM, including the Mayo Alliance Prognostic System (MAPS), do not account for the prognostic heterogeneity among ICC-defined SM-Adv subcategories. Methods: Mayo Clinic databases were utilized to access patient information. Diagnoses of SM and its morphological subcategories were confirmed through clinical evaluations and review of BM pathology. Diagnostic criteria were retrospectively fitted to be consistent with those of the ICC (Arber et al. Blood 2022;140:1200); diagnosis of MCL required the presence of immature cytomorphology of mast cells and only myeloid neoplasms were listed under the category of SM-AMN.Next-generation sequencing and cytogenetic studies was performed in a subset of the study patients according to previously described methodologies. Statistical analyses were conducted on clinical and laboratory data collected at the time of initial diagnosis while survival analysis was censored at the time of allogeneic stem cell transplant (ASCT). Results: A total of 910 Mayo Clinic patients with SM (median age 56 years, range 12-89; males 50%) were accessed in order to conduct a series of multivariable analyses (MVA) in search of independent risk factors for transplant-censored overall survival (OS). All patients were evaluable for assignment to specific ICC categories of SM: indolent (ISM; N=553), aggressive (ASM; N=114), SM-AMN (N=235), and MCL (N=8); the AMN components in SM-AMN included acute myeloid leukemia (N=18), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (N=70), myelodysplastic syndromes (N=32), MDS/myeloproliferative overlap (N=81), myelofibrosis (N=7), polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia (PV/ET; N=19), and others (N=8). In addition, subsets of patients were evaluable for hemoglobin level (N= 865), white blood cell count (WBC; N=858), platelet count (N= 859), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP; N=761), serum tryptase level (N=706), karyotype (N=574), and mutations (N=240). Median follow-up for living patients was 70 months (range, 0-520); during this time 346 (38%) deaths, 16 leukemic transformations, and 20 ASCTs were documented. ROC analysis-determined optimal cutoff levels for predicting OS included age at ≥60 years, platelet count <150 x 109/L, tryptase level ≥100 ng/mL, WBC ≥10 x 109/L, hemoglobin below sex-adjusted lower limit of normal (anemia), and ALP >210 U/L in women or >170 U/L in men (increased). All except WBC ≥10 x 109/L retained significance during MVA that included ICC-specified SM categories: MCL (HR 74.8, 26.0-215.3; p<0.01); SM-AMN (HR 3.9, 2.5-6.0; p<0.01); ASM (HR 2.2, 1.4-3.5; p<0.01); age ≥60 years (HR 3.3, 2.2-4.7; p<0.01); platelets <150 x 109/L (HR 2.8, 2.0-3.9; p<0.01); tryptase ≥100 ng/mL (HR 2.1, 1.5-2.9; p<0.01); anemia (HR 1.7, 1.1-2.4; p<0.01); and increased ALP (HR1.5, 1.1-2.0; p=0.01). A subsequent HR-weighted risk model effectively delineated 5 risk levels ranging in median survivals from 11 months to 372 months (Figure 1). Figure 2 outlines complementary subtype-specific risk models; to that end, risk factors for ISM included age ≥60 years (HR 4.5, 2.5-7.9), tryptase ≥100 ng/mL (HR 3.5, 2.1-6.0); platelets <150 x 109/L (HR 3.4, 1.5-7.9), and anemia (HR 2.4, 1.2-4.8); for ASM age ≥60 years (HR 2.3, 1.3-4.3), platelets <150 x 109/L (HR 2.4, 1.4-4.0), and anemia (HR 2.0, 1.2-3.4); and for SM-AMN age ≥60 years (HR 2.9, 1.6-5.2), platelets <150 x 109/L (HR 2.5, 1.6-3.9), and tryptase ≥100 ng/mL (HR 2.5, 1.6-3.9) [Figure 2]. In SM-AMN, additional prognostic relevance from subcategorization into PV/ET vs. all other types of AMN was appreciated (Figure 3; HR 4.0, 1.6-3.9) and incorporated into the risk model for SM-AMN (Figure 2). Abnormal karyotype (AK) and high risk mutations(HRM; ASXL1, SRSF2, RUNX1, NRAS)clustered withSM-AMN with AK and ASXL1MUT displaying independent prognostic relevance that was most apparent in SM-AMN. Conclusions : MAPS-R relies on the prognostic eminence of ICC-defined morphologic subcategories and allows for additional SM subtype-specific risk stratification. SM associated with ET or PV is a prognostically unique subcategory of SM-AMN and should be recognized as such in future classification schemes. SM-AMN must be thoroughly ruled out in the presence of AK or HRM.

ABSTRACTThe current study includes 910 patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM) seen at the Mayo Clinic from 1968 to 2024. The primary objective was to examine the prognostic contribution of the International Consensus Classification (ICC), in the context of the Mayo Alliance Prognostic System (MAPS) for SM. World Health Organization classification (WHO‐HAEM5) subcategories included (i) indolent/smoldering SM (ISM/SSM; N = 518), (ii) SM associated with another hematological neoplasm (SM‐AHN; N = 273), with the latter including both myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms, (iii) aggressive SM (ASM; N = 106), and (iv) WHO‐defined mast cell leukemia (MCL; N = 13), which included mast cells with both “mature” and “immature” morphology. The ICC‐defined subcategories were mostly similar with the exception that SM‐AHN was replaced by SM associated with another myeloid neoplasm (SM‐AMN; N = 235) and WHO‐defined MCL was replaced by ICC‐defined MCL (N = 8), which included only those with immature MC morphology. Overall survival (OS) was similar between WHO‐defined MCL (median 1.8 years) vs. SM‐AHN (median 2.3 years; p = 0.3) but significantly different between ICC‐defined MCL (median 0.08 years) vs. SM‐AMN (median 2.0 years; p < 0.01). Significant difference in OS was also apparent between ICC‐defined SM‐AMN and SM associated with lymphoid neoplasm (SM‐ALN; median 8.1 years; HR 3.4; p < 0.01). Multivariable analysis confirmed the inter‐independent prognostic contributions of both ICC‐defined morphologic subcategories and MAPS risk variables, including age > 60 years, anemia, alkaline phosphatase > ULN, and platelet count < 150 × 109/L (p < 0.03 in all instances); the same was not true for WHO‐HAEM5‐defined SM subcategories. The addition of mutational information into the multivariable model resulted in ousting anemia and inclusion of ASXL1 (p < 0.01), SRSF2 (p = 0.01), and NRAS (p = 0.01) mutations as additional risk factors. Classification of SM by ICC is prognostically more accurate, compared to WHO‐HAEM5, and strengthens the prognostic contribution of morphology to current clinical and molecular risk models.

e18596 Background: The International Consensus (ICC), but not the 5 th edition of the WHO classification (WHO5), distinguishes mature from immature mast cell leukemia (MCL) and systemic mastocytosis (SM) associated with myeloid neoplasm (SM-AMN) from SM associated with myeloid or lymphoid neoplasm (SM-AHN). The objectives of the current study were i) to assess prognostic input from disease classification by ICC vs. WHO5, and ii) to compare the predictive performance of the Mayo Alliance Prognostic scoring (MAPS) with other prognostic models and its prognostic interaction with the ICC-based morphologic classification. Methods: Study patients met diagnostic criteria per ICC/WHO5. MAPS risk variables included i) age >60 years, ii) hemoglobin below sex-adjusted lower limit of normal, iii) platelets <150 × 10⁹/L, iv) alkaline phosphatase above upper limit of normal, and v) advanced, including MCL, SM-AMN, and aggressive (ASM) vs. indolent/smoldering (ISM/SSM) SM. ICC-defined MCL includes only MCL-immature whereas WHO-defined MCL includes both MCL-immature and MCL-mature. WHO-defined SM-AHN includes SM-AMN and SM associated with lymphoid neoplasm (SM-ALN). Results: 910 Mayo Clinic patients with SM were diagnosed between 1968 and 2024 (median age 56 years). ICC categories were ISM/SSM (N=552), ASM (N=115), SM-AMN (N=235), and MCL (N=8). At median follow-up of 4 years, 345 (38%) deaths and 35 (3.8%) leukemic transformations were documented. Overall survival (OS) predictive performance at 5 years was superior with ICC (AUC 0.85), compared to WHO5 (AUC 0.83); median survival was 24.3 years in ISM/SSM, 5.8 years for ASM, 2.0 years for SM-AMN, 2.3 years for SM-AHN, 1.8 years for MCL-mature and 0.08 years for MCL-immature; the difference in OS was significant between MCL-immature and SM-AMN (p<0.01) but not between MCL-mature and SM-AHN (p=0.3). Similarly, OS was similar between MCL-mature and ASM (p=0.8) and between SM-ALN and ASM (p=0.08) but different between MCL-immature and ASM (p<0.01), SM-AMN and ASM (p<0.01), and MCL-mature and MCL-immature (p<0.01). Predictive performance at 5 years was superior with MAPS (AUC 0.91) and MAPS-molecular (AUC 0.91), compared to the mutation-adjusted risk score (MARS; AUC 0.82). Median OS estimates were not reached, 24.2, 11.7, 5.7, 2.6, and 0.7 years, in the presence of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 of the forementioned MAPS risk factors. Among informative cases, ASXL1 mutation was the only genetic risk factor with MAPS-independent prognostic relevance. Prognostic inter-independence between ICC and MAPS was confirmed by multivariable analysis. Conclusions: The current study confirms the superior performance of MAPS, in regard to survival prediction, with little additional contribution from mutations. SM sub-classification by the ICC is prognostically independent of MAPS and more valuable than classification by WHO5.

Background: Urine mast cell mediator levels have found significant clinical utility in supporting the diagnosis of various allergic disorders in the adult population. There are few studies on the range of these mediator levels in the children and its clinical utility. Objectives: We determined the range of the urine mast cell mediator levels in children. Methods: Pediatric allergy and community-based pediatric clinics including children with and without an allergic disorder, respectively, served as the source of the study. Baseline urine mast cell mediator levels were obtained for all children. Demographics, atopic disorders, clinical symptoms and response to medication were documented. Results: Urine 2,3-Dinor-11Beta-Prostaglandin F2 Alpha (BPG) values were significantly higher in children with an underlying allergic disorder when compared to those without. Stratification based on age, sex and allergic disorder was performed in patients with an allergic disorder. Urine Leukotriene E 4 (LTE 4 ) and n-Methylhistamine (NMH) were significantly correlated with age (Spearman’s rho -0.4874 and -0.6902 respectively). With every year of age, the level of the urine NMH decreased by 18 units and urine LTE 4 by 3 units approximately. Urine LTE 4 and NMH levels were significantly higher in males when compared to females. Urine BPG levels were not significantly affected by age or sex. Conclusion: Distribution of urine mast cell mediator levels are slightly different from the values derived from studies in the adult population. Urine mast cell mediators may provide clinical utility in the diagnosis and management of allergic disorders. Further large-scale studies are warranted to validate clinical utility.

Background. Some patients who present with clinical features consistent with idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES; absolute eosinophil count (AEC) ≥1.5 x 10 9/L with related end organ damage) are ultimately diagnosed with a myeloid neoplasm. Although FIP1L1::PDGFRA is the most common molecular abnormality in this setting, many other fusion genes, point mutations and cytogenetic abnormalities have been implicated in driving primary (neoplastic) eosinophilia. Given the poor prognosis of these disorders in the absence of treatment and the availability of targeted therapies for many of the driver mutations, it is becoming increasingly important to rapidly identify the underlying genetic alteration. In this regard, the expense and variable sensitivity of molecular diagnostic tests remains problematic. Although clinical features have been reported to distinguish between PDGFRA-associated myeloid neoplasms and D816V KIT-positive systemic mastocytosis with hypereosinophilia, little is known about the clinical phenotypes of other subsets of patients. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to assemble a large cohort of patients with HES secondary to a myeloid neoplasm to explore the utility of clinical and laboratory features in predicting the underlying molecular abnormality. Methods. Retrospective, de-identified data from 16 centers were collected via an online Research Electronic Data Capture repository. Patients and associated data were obtained from in-house research databases and/or electronic medical record searches at each site. Clinical and laboratory data were entered in accordance with local Institutional Review Boards. Inclusion criteria were peripheral blood hypereosinophilia (AEC &gt;1.5 x 10 9/L) on at least two occasions and one of the following: ≥1 confirmed genetic abnormality recurrently associated with primary myeloid neoplasms, other evidence of clonal eosinophilia, or increased blasts (≥2% in the blood or &gt;5% but &lt;20% in the marrow). Patients with acute myeloid leukemia were excluded. Results. A total of 277 patients followed between 1990 and 2022 were included in the analysis. Median length of follow up was 31 months (range &lt;1-356), and 217/277 (78%) were alive at last follow up. The most common genetic abnormality was FIP1L1::PDGFRA (n=131) followed by D816V KIT mutations (n=39) and alterations involving JAK2 (n=22) (Figure 1). Five patients had genetic abnormalities involving two distinct genes recurrently associated with eosinophilic myeloid neoplasms. The overall median age at diagnosis was 55 years (range 12-89) and 79% of the patients were male. When patients with abnormalities involving PDGFRA and PDGFRB were excluded from the analysis, the male predominance was significantly lower at 62% (p&lt;0.001, Fisher's exact test as compared to the data set as a whole). The overall pattern of organ system involvement was similar irrespective of the underlying genetic abnormality with a few notable exceptions. Cardiac involvement was most common in patients with FIP1L1:: PDGFRA, abnormalities involving JAK2 or without pathologic alterations identified (reported in 22%, 32% and 30%, respectively); whereas skin and gastrointestinal involvement, lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly were most frequent in patients with KIT D816V. Laboratory abnormalities also differed between groups. Whereas anemia was the most common blood abnormality (reported in &gt;50% of patients), erythrocytosis was noted primarily in patients with abnormalities involving JAK2. In contrast, circulating blasts were identified in 70% of patient with BCR::ABL1 and 29% of patients with chromosomal abnormalities or KIT D816V, but in &lt;15% of patients in any of the other groups. Whereas peak AEC alone did not discriminate between the different patient groups, the AEC/tryptase ratio was increased in patients with PDGFRA-associated myeloid neoplasms, molecular abnormalities involving JAK2, or chromosomal abnormalities as compared to those with KIT mutations (Figure 2). Conclusions. Despite the limitations of retrospective data analysis, the data from this large multicenter cohort of patients with HES due to a chronic myeloid neoplasm suggest that routine demographic, clinical and laboratory features vary depending on the underlying molecular abnormality. This approach could ultimately help guide empiric therapy when molecular studies are negative or unavailable.

AbstractBackgroundHypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) encompasses a group of diseases with blood hypereosinophilia and eosinophil‐mediated organ dysfunction. HES‐associated skin abnormalities, termed cutaneous HES (cHES) here, may influence diagnosis of HES. We sought to better define clinical and histopathological features of cHES.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed clinical records and cutaneous histopathology of adult patients with HES evaluated at our institution from 2007 to 2018.ResultsForty‐one percent (61/150) patients with HES had cHES. The most common clinical morphologies were urticarial (30%) and eczematous (26%). Skin specimens most often showed a spongiotic pattern (31%) with abundant inflammation (50%) including eosinophils (85%). Two specimens (8%) showed interstitial granulomatous dermatitis, and two specimens showed eosinophilic fasciitis (8%). Vasculitis was not identified in any specimen. Eighty‐four percent of patients with cHES had ≥1 other organ system involved: pulmonary 41%, ENT 26%, and nervous 23%. Sixty percent (53/89) of non‐cHES patients had at least two organ systems involved. Cardiac or gastrointestinal involvement was more common in non‐cHES than cHES (p < 0.05).ConclusionOur review confirms that there are no specific clinical or histopathological cHES patterns, but HES should be considered in patients who have eczematous or urticarial reactions of unknown etiology and persistent peripheral hypereosinophilia.

Abstract Eosinophilia and eosinophil activation are recurrent features in various reactive states and certain hematologic malignancies. In patients with hypereosinophilia (HE), HE‐induced organ damage is often encountered and may lead to the diagnosis of a hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). A number of known mechanisms and etiologies contribute to the development of HE and HES. Based on these etiologies and the origin of eosinophils, HE and HES are divided into primary forms where eosinophils are clonal cells, reactive forms where an underlying reactive or neoplastic condition is detected and eosinophils are considered to be “non‐clonal” cells, and idiopathic HE and HES in which neither a clonal nor a reactive underlying pathology is detected. Since 2012, this classification and the related criteria have been widely accepted and regarded as standard. However, during the past few years, new developments in the field and an increasing number of markers and targets have created a need to update these criteria and the classification of HE and HES. To address this challenge, a Working Conference on eosinophil disorders was organized in 2021. In this conference, a panel of experts representing the relevant fields, including allergy, dermatology, hematology, immunology, laboratory medicine, and pathology, met and discussed new markers and concepts as well as refinements in definitions, criteria and classifications of HE and HES. The outcomes of this conference are presented in this article and should assist in the diagnosis and management of patients with HE and HES in daily practice and in the preparation and conduct of clinical trials.

Abstract Patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM) are at increased risk for anaphylaxis from vespid and honeybee stings. The response of mastocytosis patients to tick-borne infections has not been reported. A 77-year-old woman hospitalized for progressive symptoms of fever, chills, night sweats, and abdominal pain became obtunded and required intubation, support with pressors, treatment for disseminated intravascular coagulation, and resuscitation from 3 episodes of asystole. During her evaluation, bone marrow biopsy revealed heretofore undiagnosed SM. A history of a tick bite 3 weeks previously was elicited when Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection was diagnosed. Institution of treatment with doxycycline led to gradual recovery. Ehrlichia chaffeensis–induced mast cell degranulation was felt to be responsible for many of her symptoms. This case is a cautionary report of the potential danger of tick-borne infection in patients with SM. How widespread this problem occurs is unknown and will depend on future surveillance in endemic areas.

Mastocytosis is a hematologic neoplasm characterized by expansion and focal accumulation of neoplastic mast cells (MC) in diverse organs, including the skin, bone marrow (BM), spleen, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. The World Health Organization classification divides the disease into prognostically distinct variants of cutaneous mastocytosis (CM) and systemic mastocytosis (SM). Although this classification remains valid, recent developments in the field and the advent of new diagnostic and prognostic parameters created a need to update and refine definitions and diagnostic criteria in MC neoplasms. In addition, MC activation syndromes (MCAS) and genetic features predisposing to SM and MCAS have been identified. To discuss these developments and refinements in the classification, we organized a Working Conference comprised of experts from Europe and the United States in August 2020. This article reports on outcomes from this conference. Of particular note, we propose adjustments in the classification of CM and SM, refinements in diagnostic criteria of SM variants, including smoldering SM and BM mastocytosis (BMM), and updated criteria for MCAS and other conditions involving MC. CD30 expression in MC now qualifies as a minor SM criterion, and BMM is now defined by SM criteria, absence of skin lesions and absence of B- and C-findings. A basal serum tryptase level exceeding 20 ng/mL remains a minor SM criterion, with recognition that hereditary alpha-tryptasemia and various myeloid neoplasms may also cause elevations in tryptase. Our updated proposal will support diagnostic evaluations and prognostication in daily practice and the conduct of clinical trials in MC disorders.