INTRODUCTION AND AIM Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains a curative treatment for many patients with both malignant and non-malignant hematological diseases. Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a major complication that can occur after allo-HSCT typically within the first 100 days (classic aGVHD) , with incidence rates varying depending on the donor, recipient characteristics, and type of transplant and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Targeted organs include the skin, liver, and both upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. The best treatment for GVHD is preventive treatment. Steroids represent the standard first-line treatment, and extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), as well as Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitors like Ruxolitinib, are the most important second-line therapies. The aim of this retrospective, bi-centric study is to describe the incidence and factors associated with the development of aGVHD by analyzing a population undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation, starting from the establishment of the Metropolitan Transplant Program (PTM) of the Hematology Departments in Mestre (ULSS3) and Padua. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was conducted on a cohort of 95 patients over the age of 18 who received allo-HSCT between September 2023 and June 2025 at the Hematology Departments of Mestre and Padua. The collected data included: gender, patient age at diagnosis, underlying hematologic disease, age at transplant, number of lines of therapy, Sorror Score or Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-specific Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI), disease status at transplant, and comorbidities. Additionally, data were collected on donor gender, age, and type, HLA compatibility, ABO group compatibility, quantity of infused CD3+ T-cells, type of GVHD prophylaxis, conditioning regimen (MAC or RIC), and reactivation of infections due to CMV, HHV-6, and EBV after allo-HSCT. All considered variables were correlated with the onset of aGVHD as well as with overall survival (OS). RESULTS The study reported a median age at allo-HSCT of 57 years (range 22–73), with a male predominance (52 males, 43 females). The most frequent indication for allo-HSCT was acute myeloid leukemia (57.9%), followed by acute lymphoblastic leukemias (15.8%). Prior to transplant, 51.1% of patients had received only one line of therapy, and the majority (84.1%) underwent transplant in complete remission (CR1 or CR2). According to the Sorror comorbidity score, 23.2% of patients were classified as low risk, 41.1% as intermediate risk, and 35.8% as high risk. Most allogeneic transplants were performed from unrelated donors (75%), followed by HLA-identical related donors (13.7%) and haploidentical family donors (10.5%). Myeloablative conditioning was used in 60% of cases, while the remaining 40% received a reduced-intensity regimen. Within the first 100 days post-transplant, viral reactivation was observed in 30% of patients for both HHV-6 and EBV, while CMV reactivation occurred in 14.4% of cases. The overall incidence of acute GVHD (aGVHD) was 27.8%, with a predominance of mild (Grade I: 20%) and moderate forms (Grade II: 14.7%). Severe forms were rare (Grade III: 2.1%), and no Grade IV cases were observed. Organ involvement mainly affected the skin (31.6%), with predominantly mild manifestations. Liver and gut involvement was less frequent (2.2% and 7.4%, respectively), and no severe forms were recorded. Statistical analysis did not reveal any significant associations between the development of aGVHD and the main clinical or biological factors analyzed. The only statistically significant correlation was between HHV-6 reactivation and the onset of aGVHD (p = 0.0007; OR 5.41, 95% CI: 2.0–14.3), suggesting a possible pathogenic role of this virus in post-transplant immune dysregulation.
INTRODUZIONE E SCOPO DELLO STUDIO Il trapianto allogenico di cellule staminali ematopoietiche (allo-HSCT) rimane ad oggi la cura per molti pazienti con patologie ematologiche neoplastiche e non neoplastiche. La graft-versus-host disease acuta (aGVHD) è una complicanza importante che si verifica di solito entro 100 giorni dopo allo-HSCT con tassi di incidenza variabili in relazione alle caratteristiche del donatore, del ricevente e del tipo di trapianto e che si associa ad elevata morbidità e mortalità. Gli organi target sono rappresentati dalla cute, il fegato e il tratto gastrointestinale superiore e inferiore. La migliore terapia per la GVHD è la profilassi. I corticosteroidi rappresentano il trattamento standard di prima linea e la fotoaferesi extracorporea (ECP), gli inibitori di Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) come Ruxolitinib rappresentano le più importanti terapie di seconda linea. Lo scopo del presente studio retrospettivo e bi-centrico è quello di descrivere l’incidenza e i fattori associati allo sviluppo di aGVHD analizzando una popolazione sottoposta ad allotrapianto dall’avvio del Programma Trapianti Metropolitano PTM delle UOC Ematologia di Mestre (ULSS3) e Padova. MATERIALI E METODI Lo studio è stato condotto su una coorte di 95 pazienti di età superiore a 18 anni che hanno ricevuto un allo-HSCT tra settembre 2023 e giugno 2025 afferenti alle UOC di Ematologia di Mestre e Padova. I dati raccolti sono stati: sesso, età del paziente alla diagnosi, malattia ematologica di base, età al trapianto, numero di linee di terapia, Sorror Score o Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-specific Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI), stato della malattia al trapianto e comorbidità. Inoltre sono stati raccolti i dati su sesso, età e tipo del donatore, compatibilità HLA, compatibilità di gruppo AB0, tipo di profilassi per la GVHD, regime di condizionamento (MAC o RIC) e riattivazione di infezioni da CMV, HHV-6 ed EBV dopo allo-HSCT. Tutte le variabili considerate sono state correlate con l’insorgenza di aGVHD nonché con la sopravvivenza globale (OS). RISULTATI Lo studio ha evidenziato un’età mediana al trapianto di 57 anni (range 22–73), con una prevalenza maschile (52 maschi, 43 femmine). L’indicazione più frequente ad allo-HSCT è stata la leucemia mieloide acuta (57.9%), seguita da leucemie linfoblastiche acute (15.8%). Il 51.1% dei pazienti ha ricevuto una sola linea di terapia prima del trapianto; la maggior parte (84.1%) è stata sottoposta a trapianto in remissione completa (CR1 o CR2). In base al Sorror Score, il 23.2% dei pazienti era a basso rischio, il 41.1% a rischio intermedio e il 35.8% ad alto rischio. La maggior parte degli allo-HSCT è stata eseguita da URC (75%), seguita da donatori familiari HLA-identici (13.7%) e aploidentici (10.5%). Il 60% dei pazienti ha ricevuto un condizionamento mieloablativo, il restante 40% un regime RIC. Entro i primi 100 giorni post-trapianto, si è osservata una riattivazione virale nel 30% dei casi per HHV-6 e per EBV, mentre la riattivazione del CMV è stata del 14.4%. L’incidenza complessiva di GVHD acuta (aGVHD) è stata del 27.8%, con una distribuzione prevalente di forme lievi (grado I: 20%) e moderate (grado II: 14.7%). Le forme severe (grado III) sono risultate rare (2.1%) e non sono stati osservati casi di grado IV. Il coinvolgimento d’organo ha riguardato principalmente la cute (31.6%), con manifestazioni prevalentemente lievi. Fegato e intestino sono stati coinvolti in misura minore (2.2% e 7.4%, rispettivamente), senza forme gravi. L’analisi statistica non ha evidenziato associazioni significative tra l’insorgenza di aGVHD e i principali fattori clinico-biologici raccolti. L’unica correlazione significativa riscontrata è stata tra la positività all’HHV-6 e lo sviluppo di aGVHD (p = 0.0007; OR 5.41, IC 95%: 2.0–14.3), suggerendo un possibile ruolo patogenetico del virus nella disregolazione immunitaria post-trapianto.
Incidenza e fattori di rischio associati alla Graft-versus-Host Disease acuta (aGvHD) acuta dopo trapianto allogenico di cellule staminali emopoietiche (allo-HSCT): l'esperienza dell’ Ematologia di Padova.
MAZZETTO, FEDERICA
2023/2024
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIM Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains a curative treatment for many patients with both malignant and non-malignant hematological diseases. Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a major complication that can occur after allo-HSCT typically within the first 100 days (classic aGVHD) , with incidence rates varying depending on the donor, recipient characteristics, and type of transplant and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Targeted organs include the skin, liver, and both upper and lower gastrointestinal tract. The best treatment for GVHD is preventive treatment. Steroids represent the standard first-line treatment, and extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), as well as Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitors like Ruxolitinib, are the most important second-line therapies. The aim of this retrospective, bi-centric study is to describe the incidence and factors associated with the development of aGVHD by analyzing a population undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation, starting from the establishment of the Metropolitan Transplant Program (PTM) of the Hematology Departments in Mestre (ULSS3) and Padua. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was conducted on a cohort of 95 patients over the age of 18 who received allo-HSCT between September 2023 and June 2025 at the Hematology Departments of Mestre and Padua. The collected data included: gender, patient age at diagnosis, underlying hematologic disease, age at transplant, number of lines of therapy, Sorror Score or Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-specific Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI), disease status at transplant, and comorbidities. Additionally, data were collected on donor gender, age, and type, HLA compatibility, ABO group compatibility, quantity of infused CD3+ T-cells, type of GVHD prophylaxis, conditioning regimen (MAC or RIC), and reactivation of infections due to CMV, HHV-6, and EBV after allo-HSCT. All considered variables were correlated with the onset of aGVHD as well as with overall survival (OS). RESULTS The study reported a median age at allo-HSCT of 57 years (range 22–73), with a male predominance (52 males, 43 females). The most frequent indication for allo-HSCT was acute myeloid leukemia (57.9%), followed by acute lymphoblastic leukemias (15.8%). Prior to transplant, 51.1% of patients had received only one line of therapy, and the majority (84.1%) underwent transplant in complete remission (CR1 or CR2). According to the Sorror comorbidity score, 23.2% of patients were classified as low risk, 41.1% as intermediate risk, and 35.8% as high risk. Most allogeneic transplants were performed from unrelated donors (75%), followed by HLA-identical related donors (13.7%) and haploidentical family donors (10.5%). Myeloablative conditioning was used in 60% of cases, while the remaining 40% received a reduced-intensity regimen. Within the first 100 days post-transplant, viral reactivation was observed in 30% of patients for both HHV-6 and EBV, while CMV reactivation occurred in 14.4% of cases. The overall incidence of acute GVHD (aGVHD) was 27.8%, with a predominance of mild (Grade I: 20%) and moderate forms (Grade II: 14.7%). Severe forms were rare (Grade III: 2.1%), and no Grade IV cases were observed. Organ involvement mainly affected the skin (31.6%), with predominantly mild manifestations. Liver and gut involvement was less frequent (2.2% and 7.4%, respectively), and no severe forms were recorded. Statistical analysis did not reveal any significant associations between the development of aGVHD and the main clinical or biological factors analyzed. The only statistically significant correlation was between HHV-6 reactivation and the onset of aGVHD (p = 0.0007; OR 5.41, 95% CI: 2.0–14.3), suggesting a possible pathogenic role of this virus in post-transplant immune dysregulation.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/96670