Secondary autoimmune diseases occurring after HSCT for an autoimmune disease: a retrospective study of the EBMT Autoimmune Disease Working Party

Blood. 2011 Aug 11;118(6):1693-8. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-02-336156. Epub 2011 May 19.

Abstract

To specify the incidence and risk factors for secondary autoimmune diseases (ADs) after HSCT for a primary AD, we retrospectively analyzed AD patients treated by HSCT reported to EBMT from 1995 to 2009 with at least 1 secondary AD (cases) and those without (controls). After autologous HSCT, 29 of 347 patients developed at least 1 secondary AD within 21.9 (0.6-49) months and after allogeneic HSCT, 3 of 16 patients. The observed secondary ADs included: autoimmune hemolytic anemia (n = 3), acquired hemophilia (n = 3), autoimmune thrombocytopenia (n = 3), antiphospholipid syndrome (n = 2), thyroiditis (n = 12), blocking thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody (n = 1), Graves disease (n = 2), myasthenia gravis (n = 1), rheumatoid arthritis (n = 2), sarcoidosis (n = 2), vasculitis (n = 1), psoriasis (n = 1), and psoriatic arthritis (n = 1). After autologous HSCT for primary AD, the cumulative incidence of secondary AD was 9.8% ± 2% at 5 years. Lupus erythematosus as primary AD, and antithymocyte globulin use plus CD34(+) graft selection were important risk factors for secondary AD by multivariate analysis. With a median follow-up of 6.2 (0.54-11) years after autologous HSCT, 26 of 29 patients with secondary AD were alive, 2 died during their secondary AD (antiphospholipid syndrome, hemophilia), and 1 death was HSCT-related. This European multicenter study underlines the need for careful management and follow-up for secondary AD after HSCT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / therapeutic use
  • Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / etiology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / surgery*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Rituximab
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Rituximab
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Prednisone