Childhood Langerhans cell histiocytosis hematological involvement: Severity associated with BRAF(V600E) loads Journal Article


Authors: Thalhammer, J.; Jeziorski, E.; Marec-Bérard, P.; Barkaoui, M. A.; Pagnier, A.; Rohrlich, P. S.; Chevallier, A.; Carausu, L.; Aladjidi, N.; Rigaud, C.; Leruste, A.; Azarnoush, S.; Lauvray, T.; Le Louet, S.; Gandemer, V.; Treguier, P.; Mansuy, L.; Pasquet, M.; Olivier, L.; Rome, A.; Saultier, P.; Isfan, F.; Renard, C.; Li Thiao Te, V.; Salmon, A.; Blanc, L.; Abou Chahla, W.; Lambilliotte, A.; Stephan, J. L.; Geissmann, F.; Lejeune, J.; Mallebranche, C.; Reguerre, Y.; Grain, A.; Thomas, C.; Hélias-Rodzewicz, Z.; Moshous, D.; Fenneteau, O.; Coulomb-L'Hermine, A.; Lapillonne, H.; de Saint-Basile, G.; Emile, J. F.; Héritier, S.; Donadieu, J.
Article Title: Childhood Langerhans cell histiocytosis hematological involvement: Severity associated with BRAF(V600E) loads
Abstract: Hematological involvement (HI) is one of the life-threatening risk organs (ROs) in Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). Lahey criteria have defined HI since 1975 as hemoglobin <10 g/dL, platelets <100 × 109/L, leukopenia (white blood cell count <4 × 109/L), and/or neutrophils <1.5 × 109/L. Among the 2313 patients aged <18 years enrolled in the French National Histiocytosis Registry (1983-2023), 331 developed HI (median age at diagnosis, 1 year); median follow-up lasted 8.1 years. Bone marrow aspirate smears and biopsies may show reactive histiocytes, hemophagocytosis, or myelofibrosis but never confirm the diagnosis. Fifty-eight patients (17%) developed macrophage-activation syndrome, sometimes related to acute Epstein-Barr virus or cytomegalovirus infection, sometimes months before typical LCH manifestations appeared. Hemoglobin and platelet thresholds for initiating transfusion(s) appear to accurately distinguish 2 groups: mild HI (MHI; >7 g/dL and >20 × 109/L, respectively) and severe HI (SHI; ≤7 g/dL and/or ≤20 × 109/L). Each entity has different organ involvements, laboratory parameters, mutational status, blood BRAFV600E loads, drug sensitivities, and outcomes (MHI and SHI 10-year survival rates, 98% and 73%, respectively). Since 1998, mortality first declined with combination cladribine-cytarabine therapy and then with MAPK inhibitors since 2014. Forty-one patients (12%) developed neurodegenerative complications that have emerged as a risk for long-term survivors. These results suggest limiting the HI-RO definition to SHI, because it encompasses almost all medical complications of LCH. Future clinical trials might demonstrate that targeted therapy approaches would be better adapted for these patients, whereas MHI can be managed with classic therapies. © 2025 American Society of Hematology
Keywords: adolescent; child; human tissue; preschool child; child, preschool; myelofibrosis; survival rate; major clinical study; genetics; mutation; cytarabine; follow up; follow-up studies; thrombocyte; leukopenia; hemoglobin; pathology; register; registries; severity of illness index; neutrophil; infant; diagnosis; histiocyte; histiocytosis; leukocyte count; drug sensitivity; b raf kinase; cytomegalovirus infection; epstein barr virus; proto-oncogene proteins b-raf; braf protein, human; cladribine; erythrophagocytosis; langerhans cell histiocytosis; histiocytosis, langerhans-cell; humans; human; male; female; article; macrophage activation syndrome; bone marrow aspiration
Journal Title: Blood
Volume: 145
Issue: 10
ISSN: 0006-4971
Publisher: American Society of Hematology  
Date Published: 2025-03-06
Start Page: 1061
End Page: 1073
Language: English
DOI: 10.1182/blood.2024025625
PUBMED: 39486044
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Source: Scopus
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