scholarly journals Case Report: Fatal Complications of BK Virus-Hemorrhagic Cystitis and Severe Cytokine Release Syndrome Following BK Virus-Specific T-Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Holland ◽  
Corina Gonzalez ◽  
Elliot Levy ◽  
Vladimir A. Valera ◽  
Heather Chalfin ◽  
...  

BK virus (BKV)-hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a well-known and rarely fatal complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Treatment for BKV-HC is limited, but virus-specific T-cells (VST) represent a promising therapeutic option feasible for use posttransplant. We report on the case of a 16-year-old male with dedicator of cytokinesis 8 (DOCK8) deficiency who underwent haploidentical HSCT complicated by severe BKV-HC, catastrophic renal hemorrhage, and VST-associated cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Gross hematuria refractory to multiple interventions began with initiation of posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PT/Cy). Complete left renal arterial embolization (day +43) was ultimately indicated to control intractable renal hemorrhage. Subsequent infusion of anti-BK VSTs was complicated by CRS and progressive multiorgan failure, with postmortem analysis confirming diagnosis of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS). This case illustrates opportunities for improvement in the management of severe BKV-HC posttransplant while highlighting rare and potentially life-threatening complications of BKV-HC and VST therapy.

2021 ◽  
pp. JCO.20.02608
Author(s):  
Amanda Olson ◽  
Ruitao Lin ◽  
David Marin ◽  
Hind Rafei ◽  
Mustafa H. Bdaiwi ◽  
...  

PURPOSE BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis (BKV-HC) is a common complication of allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), particularly in recipients of alternative donor transplants, which are being performed in increasing numbers. BKV-HC typically results in painful hematuria, urinary obstruction, and renal dysfunction, without a definitive therapeutic option. METHODS We performed a clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02479698 ) to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of administering most closely HLA-matched third-party BKV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), generated from 26 healthy donors and banked for off-the-shelf use. The cells were infused into 59 patients who developed BKV-HC following AHSCT. Comprehensive clinical assessments and correlative studies were performed. RESULTS Response to BKV-CTL infusion was rapid; the day 14 overall response rate was 67.7% (40 of 59 evaluable patients), which increased to 81.6% among evaluable patients at day 45 (40 of 49 evaluable patients). No patient lost a previously achieved response. There were no cases of de novo grade 3 or 4 graft-versus-host disease, graft failure, or infusion-related toxicities. BKV-CTLs were identified in patient blood samples up to 3 months postinfusion and their in vivo expansion predicted for clinical response. A matched-pair analysis revealed that, compared with standard of care, after accounting for prognostic covariate effects, treatment with BKV-CTLs resulted in higher probabilities of response at all follow-up timepoints as well as significantly lower transfusion requirement. CONCLUSION Off-the-shelf BKV-CTLs are a safe and effective therapy for the management of patients with BKV-HC after AHSCT.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e000742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catalin Constantinescu ◽  
Sergiu Pasca ◽  
Tiberiu Tat ◽  
Patric Teodorescu ◽  
Catalin Vlad ◽  
...  

Recently, an increasing number of novel drugs were approved in oncology and hematology. Nevertheless, pharmacology progress comes with a variety of side effects, of which cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a potential complication of some immunotherapies that can lead to multiorgan failure if not diagnosed and treated accordingly. CRS generally occurs with therapies that lead to highly activated T cells, like chimeric antigen receptor T cells or in the case of bispecific T-cell engaging antibodies. This, in turn, leads to a proinflammatory state with subsequent organ damage. To better manage CRS there is a need for specific therapies or to repurpose strategies that are already known to be useful in similar situations. Current management strategies for CRS are represented by anticytokine directed therapies and corticosteroids. Based on its pathophysiology and the resemblance of CRS to sepsis and septic shock, as well as based on the principles of initiation of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in sepsis, we propose the rationale of using CRRT therapy as an adjunct treatment in CRS where all the other approaches have failed in controlling the clinically significant manifestations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Duygu Mert ◽  
Hikmetullah Batgi ◽  
Alparslan Merdin ◽  
Sabahat Çeken ◽  
Mehmet Sinan Dal ◽  
...  

BK virus is a human polyoma virus. It is acquired in early childhood and remains life-long latent in the genitourinary system. BK virus replication is more common in receiving immunosuppressive therapy receiving patients and transplant patients. BK virus could cause hemorrhagic cystitis in patients with allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Hemorrhagic cystitis is a serious complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Hemorrhagic cystitis could cause morbidity and long stay in the hospital. Diagnosis is more frequently determined by the presence of BK virus DNA detected with quantitative or real-time PCR testing in serum or plasma and less often in urine. The reduction of immunosuppression is effective in the treatment of BK virus infection. There are also several agents with anti-BK virus activity. Cidofovir is an active agent against a variety of DNA viruses including poliomyoma viruses and it is a cytosine nucleotide analogue. Intravenous immunoglobulin IgG (IVIG) also includes antibodies against BK and JC (John Cunningham) viruses. Hereby, we report three cases of hemorrhagic cystitis. Hemorrhagic cystitis developed in all these three cases of allogeneic stem cell transplantation due to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). BK virus were detected as the cause of hemorrhagic cystitis in these patients. Irrigation of the bladder was performed. Then levofloxacin 1×750 mg intravenous and IVIG 0.5 gr/kg were started. But the hematuria did not decreased. In the first case, treatment with leflunomide was started, but patient died due to refractory AML and severe graft-versus-host disease after 4th day of leflunamide and levofloxacin treatments. Cidofovir treatment and the reduction of immunosuppressive treatment decreased the BK virus load and resulted symptomatic improvement in the second case. Initiation of cidofovir was planned in the third case. Administration of cidofovir together with the reduction of immunosuppression in the treatment of hemorrhagic cystitis associated with BK virus in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients could be a good option.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anett Pfeiffer ◽  
Frederic B Thalheimer ◽  
Sylvia Hartmann ◽  
Annika M Frank ◽  
Ruben R Bender ◽  
...  

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