Magee, Kyrie

AbstractIntroductionThe effects of RIC for HSCT on male fertility remain unknown. We investigated spermatogenesis and gonadal hormonal status among adolescent male patients who received RIC HSCT for non‐malignant diseases.Patients and MethodsPatients with non‐malignant disease who had undergone a RIC HSCT were recruited and evaluated for spermatogenesis via semen analysis and gonadal hormonal function via serum hormone levels. Those who had received prior chemotherapy or radiation were excluded from the study. We reviewed the charts to record demographic factors, conditioning regimen and complications during and after transplant.ResultsFive patients were enrolled. The median age at the time of transplant was 15 years (range, 11‐19 years), and the median time between bone marrow transplant and semen analysis was 5 years (range, 3‐11 years). Median age of patients was 20 years (range, 18‐25 years) at the time of the study. Serum FSH and LH levels were elevated in four patients, and inhibin B levels were low for age in three patients. Semen analysis showed two patients had azoospermia, and the remaining three patients showed severe oligozoospermia. Normal morphology and motility were seen in only one patient.ConclusionThis case series suggests that RIC transplants may be associated with impaired spermatogenesis and sequential follow‐up is necessary given the potential for either permanent impairment or delayed recovery. Further larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

BACKGROUND After hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a known and fairly common complication. It is often refractory to conventional therapies including corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, splenectomy, and the more recently described use of monoclonal antibodies. The high morbidity associated with these severe persistent cases elucidates the gaps in alternative therapies available for treatment. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We described the successful use of abatacept for severe refractory AIHA after HSCT in three patients. RESULTS Three pediatric patients with refractory AIHA after allogeneic stem cell transplantation were observed to be unresponsive to multitude immunosuppressive therapies, resulting in persistent transfusion dependency. Treatment with abatacept, a fusion protein that inhibits T‐cell activation by binding to CD80/CD86 on antigen‐presenting cells (APCs), thus blocking the required CD28 interaction between APCs and T cells, resulted in the resolution of hemolysis. CONCLUSION Abatacept may provide significant clinical benefit in the management of AIHA after HSCT.