Identification and Treatment of Thrombotic Microangiopathies in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants

Identification of the Pathogenesis of Thrombotic Microangiopathy in the Allo Stem Cell Transplant Setting in Adults

Mortality in the major thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs), TTP and aHUS, exceeds 90% unless rapidly diagnosed and appropriately treated. TMAs complicate 10-20% of allogeneic bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell transplants (alloHSCT), conveying inferior survival. Multiple etiologies have been proposed for these transplant-associated TMAs (TA-TMAs), but once infection, graft vs. host disease (GvHD), and drug effects have been ruled out, most are treated as TTP-like disorders using plasma exchange (PEx). But PEx has no impact on mortality in this setting. Clear definition of the pathophysiology of the TA-TMAs is required to guide effective treatment. Investigators hypothesize that an aHUS-type TMA, related to dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway, is involved and will be characterized by elevated plasma levels of C5b-9 and detectable C5b-9 deposition in bone marrow sinusoidal vessels. Investigators further hypothesize that treatment with inhibitors of terminal complement components will reverse the TMA in vivo, and block endothelial cell damage in our in vitro model systems. The data investigators generate from this observational study of TA-TMAs should enable prediction of their development prior to overt clinical manifestations, and guide appropriate therapy.

Investigators plan to enroll 120 adult patients who are undergoing an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant and follow them serially for one year. Investigators will harvest and store at -80oC plasma and PBMCs, and collect bone marrow core biopsy specimens on all individuals at baseline, days 28, 100, 190, 365 post-transplant, and at time of relapse of primary disease relapse or TMA development. These time points, bone marrow procedures, and blood draws are part of the ordinary and customary followup of any allogeneic HSCT patient at our institution. With these patient samples investigators will:

1. Determine the incidence of all TMAs fitting the criteria of a Coombs negative hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia (25% decrease from baseline) and elevated (2x baseline) LDH, with schistocytes and organ system involvement (typically increased creatinine or new microscopic hematuria or proteinuria)
2. Determine the incidence of an aHUS-like TMA, i.e., a TMA characterized by ADAMTS13 activity in plasma >5% with clinical and laboratory findings which persists after stopping their calcineurin or mTOR inhibitor for one half life (3-7 days, depending on the drug), and ruling out or treating an underlying systemic infection or GvHD.
3. Determine complement component activation, proinflammatory cytokine profile, and baseline complement mutations. This will include ELISA-based measures of plasma C5a, C5b-9, MASP-1-3, tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, and interferon-γ, and pre-transplant complement mutational analysis .
4. Assay participants plasma for the ability to induce injury in primary human microvascular endothelial cells (MVEC), and the ability of an anti-C5 monoclonal antibody (mAb) (Alexion, eculizumab (Soliris)) and anti-MASP2 (Omeros, OMS721) mAb, to block these changes in the investigators' established model.
5. Define the degree of C5b-9 deposition in sinusoidal CD34+ endothelial cells by immunohistochemistry, (IHC) examining marrow core biopsies collected at each patient visit and at time of TMA development.
6. Correlate changes in plasma biomarkers, marrow sinusoidal C5b-9 deposition, and the in vitro plasma-MVEC injury model with treatment interventions and treatment outcomes, chosen by the transplant attending of record in this observational cohort.

Inclusion Criteria:

• participants scheduled to undergo an allogeneic stem cell transplant
• willing to consent to genetic testing

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnant women
• nursing mothers
• women of child-bearing potential who are unwilling to use medically accepted methods of contraception
• patients with known contraindications to use of eculizumab
• patients who cannot tolerate plasma exchange