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Outcomes and Treatment Strategies for Autoimmunity and Hyperinflammation in Patients with RAG Deficiency
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Outcomes and Treatment Strategies for Autoimmunity and Hyperinflammation in Patients with RAG Deficiency

Jocelyn R Farmer, Zsofia Foldvari, Boglarka Ujhazi, Suk See De Ravin, Karin Chen, Jack J.H Bleesing, Catharina Schuetz, Waleed Al-Herz, Roshini S Abraham, Avni Y Joshi, …
The journal of allergy and clinical immunology in practice (Cambridge, MA), Vol.7(6), pp.1970-1985.e4
07/2019
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.02.038
PMCID: PMC6612449
PMID: 30877075
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2019.02.038View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Although autoimmunity and hyperinflammation secondary to recombination activating gene (RAG) deficiency have been associated with delayed diagnosis and even death, our current understanding is limited primarily to small case series. Understand the frequency, severity, and treatment responsiveness of autoimmunity and hyperinflammation in RAG deficiency. In reviewing the literature and our own database, we identified 85 patients with RAG deficiency, reported between 2001 and 2016, and compiled the largest case series to date of 63 patients with prominent autoimmune and/or hyperinflammatory pathology. Diagnosis of RAG deficiency was delayed a median of 5 years from the first clinical signs of immune dysregulation. Most patients (55.6%) presented with more than 1 autoimmune or hyperinflammatory complication, with the most common etiologies being cytopenias (84.1%), granulomas (23.8%), and inflammatory skin disorders (19.0%). Infections, including live viral vaccinations, closely preceded the onset of autoimmunity in 28.6% of cases. Autoimmune cytopenias had early onset (median, 1.9, 2.1, and 2.6 years for autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, and autoimmune neutropenia, respectively) and were refractory to intravenous immunoglobulin, steroids, and rituximab in most cases (64.7%, 73.7%, and 71.4% for autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, and autoimmune neutropenia, respectively). Evans syndrome specifically was associated with lack of response to first-line therapy. Treatment-refractory autoimmunity/hyperinflammation prompted hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 20 patients. Autoimmunity/hyperinflammation can be a presenting sign of RAG deficiency and should prompt further evaluation. Multilineage cytopenias are often refractory to immunosuppressive treatment and may require hematopoietic cell transplantation for definitive management.
Autoimmune cytopenias Immune dysregulation Recombination activating gene (RAG) Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)

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