Anti-thymocyte globulin, cyclosporin A and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for severe aplastic anaemia complicating paediatric liver transplantation

Evolution in the management of acute liver failure-associated aplastic anaemia in children: a single centre experience

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Bone marrow failure (BMF) is a potentially life-threatening complication of acute liver failure (ALF).

METHODS

To investigate prevalence and evolving management of BMF associated with ALF, we reviewed all cases seen in our centre over 17 years. BMF was classified as: (a) bone marrow hypoplasia, (b) severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) and (c) very severe aplastic anaemia (VSAA), using standard criteria. We compared outcomes in children receiving: (1) medical treatment only with or without immunomodulation (anti-lymphocyte globulin, calcineurin inhibitors, G-CSF); (2) medical treatment with or without immunomodulation plus liver transplantation (LT); (3) haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

RESULTS

Of 213 patients with ALF, 20 [(9.4%); 14 (70%) boys] developed BMF after a median of 1 month (range, 0.5 to 7). Seven had VSAA, 7 SAA and 6 bone marrow hypoplasia. Five children were treated medically, including 3 by immunomodulation; 10 (50%) received LT, with immunomodulation in 6; 5 (25%) received HSCT, in one after LT. Four (20%) children died, only one as consequence of AA. There was no difference in recovery, complication rates or outcome among the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Aggressive management of ALF-associated AA, including immunomodulation, HSCT and LT, is successful in most cases. HSCT has the advantage of removing the risk of late clonal disorders.

Successful recovery of aplastic anemia following orthotopic liver transplantation for non-A-E acute liver failure

This report describes a teenager who developed aplastic anemia (AA) because of non-A-E acute liver failure (ALF) requiring orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). His AA did not recover spontaneously and he required treatment with ATG 9 months post-OLT. Bone marrow recovery occurred 4 months after immunotherapy and coincided with further intensification of immunusuppression required to treat early chronic rejection of the liver graft. Three years post-OLT he remains well with good bone marrow and liver function. Intensification of immunosuppression can lead to successful resolution of AA associated with non-A-E ALF.

Bone marrow failure in children with acute liver failure

BACKGROUND

Aplastic anemia is a rare but well-recognized complication of acute hepatitis and acute liver failure. The cause is unknown, and the condition is fatal without bone marrow recovery. Treatment includes immunosuppression regimens or bone marrow transplantation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence, cause, treatment, and outcomes of this disorder in children.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of 75 patients with acute liver failure in a major pediatric liver center.

RESULTS

Eight patients had evidence of bone marrow failure. Of those, six had aplastic anemia, and two had transient bone marrow suppression. There were five boys, median age 57 months (range, 36-132 months). Two had parvovirus B19, six had non-A, non-B, non-C hepatitis. Five underwent liver transplantation: auxiliary in one, orthotopic in four. The interval between initial symptoms and development of aplastic anemia and/or bone marrow suppression was 21 to 99 days (median, 39 days). Four patients with aplastic anemia received intravenous antithymocyte globulin (ATG) or antilymphocyte globulin (ALG). Median recovery period of granulopoiesis was 62 days (range, 27-115 days). Two made a full recovery, one had myelodysplasia, and one with unresponsive disease died of septic complications. Four did not receive ATG/ALG, two had aplastic anemia, and two had bone marrow suppression. Three underwent liver transplantation, and all four resumed granulopoiesis. One child who underwent liver transplantation died of sepsis with chronic rejection. Median recovery of granulopoiesis was 99 days (range, 20-153 days).

CONCLUSIONS

Bone marrow failure occurs in 10.7% of children with acute liver failure. It sometimes occurs in association with non-A, non-B, non-C hepatitis and parvovirus B19 infection. Treatment with ATG/ALG is successful and is well tolerated in most cases.