Prognostic Factors and Treatment-Effect Modifiers in Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare, progressive neuromuscular disease characterized by loss of motor neurons and muscle atrophy. Untreated infants with type 1 SMA do not achieve major motor milestones, and death from respiratory failure typically occurs before 2 years of age. Individuals with types 2 and 3 SMA exhibit milder phenotypes and have better functional and survival outcomes.

Loss of the interleukin-6 receptor causes immunodeficiency, atopy, and abnormal inflammatory responses.

IL-6 excess is central to the pathogenesis of multiple inflammatory conditions and is targeted in clinical practice by immunotherapy that blocks the IL-6 receptor encoded by We describe two patients with homozygous mutations in who presented with recurrent infections, abnormal acute-phase responses, elevated IgE, eczema, and eosinophilia. This study identifies a novel primary immunodeficiency, clarifying the contribution of IL-6 to the phenotype of patients with mutations in , and genes encoding different components of the IL-6 signaling pathway, and alerts us to the potential toxicity of drugs targeting the IL-6R.

Molecular remission of infant B-ALL after infusion of universal TALEN gene-edited CAR T cells.

Autologous T cells engineered to express chimeric antigen receptor against the B cell antigen CD19 (CAR19) are achieving marked leukemic remissions in early-phase trials but can be difficult to manufacture, especially in infants or heavily treated patients. We generated universal CAR19 (UCART19) T cells by lentiviral transduction of non-human leukocyte antigen-matched donor cells and simultaneous transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN)-mediated gene editing of T cell receptor α chain and CD52 gene loci. Two infants with relapsed refractory CD19 B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia received lymphodepleting chemotherapy and anti-CD52 serotherapy, followed by a single-dose infusion of UCART19 cells.

Current and emerging treatment options for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome is a life-threatening primary immunodeficiency associated with a bleeding tendency, eczema and a high incidence of autoimmunity and malignancy. Stem cell transplantation offers the opportunity of cure for all these complications, and over the past 35 years there has been a remarkable improvement in survival following this treatment. Here, we review advances in management of clinical complications pre- and post-transplant, as well as discuss the morbidity Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome patients experience following treatment.

Adenosine deaminase deficient severe combined immunodeficiency presenting as atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome.

Purpose: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency is a systemic disorder of purine metabolism. Deficiency of the purine salvage enzyme ADA leads to the build-up of the toxic metabolites, deoxyadenosine triphosphate and deoxyadenosine. ADA is ubiquitously expressed in all tissues of the body but most profoundly affects lymphocyte development and function leading to severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).

Neonatal diagnosis of severe combined immunodeficiency leads to significantly improved survival outcome: the case for newborn screening.

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) carries a poor prognosis without definitive treatment by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The outcome for transplantation varies and is dependent on donor status and the condition of the child at the time of transplantation. Diagnosis at birth may allow for better protection of SCID babies from infection and improve transplantation outcome.

Endothelial injury and repair in systemic vasculitis of the young.

Objective: Endothelial injury is central to the pathogenesis of vasculitis. The purpose of this study was to assess how indices of endothelial injury and repair change during different stages of disease activity in children with primary systemic vasculitis (PSV).

Methods: Fifty children with PSV, 17 children with nonvasculitic inflammatory diseases (pediatric inflammatory disease controls), 35 healthy age- and sex-matched pediatric controls, and 27 healthy adult controls were included in the study.

Poststreptococcal acute disseminated encephalomyelitis with basal ganglia involvement and auto-reactive antibasal ganglia antibodies.

Antibasal ganglia antibodies (ABGA) are associated with Sydenham's chorea and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections. We present 10 patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) associated with Group A beta hemolytic streptococcal infection. The clinical phenotype was novel, with 50% having a dystonic extrapyramidal movement disorder, and 70% a behavioral syndrome.

Measuring and interpreting the incidence of congenital ocular anomalies: lessons from a national study of congenital cataract in the UK.

Purpose: Prevention of visual impairment due to congenital cataract is an international priority. Estimates of incidence are required for implementation and assessment of preventive strategies, but are not widely available, despite routine monitoring of birth defects at a national level in many industrialized countries. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of new diagnosis of congenital and infantile cataract in the United Kingdom.