Clinical, pathological and prognostic analysis of 15 children with hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoproliferative disorder

Abstract

Objective \nTo analyze clinical features and prognosis of 15 children with hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoproliferative disorder (HVLPD) . \n \n \nMethods \nClinical features, histopathological findings, treatment outcomes in 15 patients, who were diagnosed with HVLPD in the Department of Dermatology, Children′s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from 2014 to 2018, were retrospectively analyzed. \n \n \nResults \nAmong the 15 patients, 7 were males and 8 were females. The age of onset ranged from 2 to 13 years, and the average age was 6.5 years. Main clinical manifestations included facial edema, and papules, blisters, ulcers and crusts repeatedly occurring on both the sun-exposed parts such as the face and limbs and non-sun-exposed parts such as the trunk. Of the 15 patients, 13 had intermittent fever, 13 had hepatosplenomegaly, and 15 had lymphadenectasis. Moreover, kidney failure occurred in 1 patient, hemophagocytic syndrome occurred in 2, and lymphoma occurred in 1. Laboratory examination showed that 15 patients were all positive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) -immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody, and all negative for EBV-IgM antibody. Additionally, high replication of EBV DNA was detected. Histopathological study of skin lesions showed mild to dense perivascular and periadnexal infiltration of lymphocytes in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Immunohistochemistry study showed positive staining for CD4 and CD8 in 13 of 15 patients, for CD56 in 7 of 15 patients, and for CD3 in 12 of 13 patients. Moreover, 9 of 11 cases were detected positive for T-cell intracellular antigen-1, 8 cases were all detected positive for granzyme B, and the Ki-67 proliferation index ranged from 3% to 50% in 11 of 12 cases. The treatment protocols were similar among the 15 patients. After the treatment, 2 patients showed stable disease condition, and 10 experienced relapse. During the follow-up, 2 patients developed hemophagocytic syndrome, 1 developed lymphoma, and the 3 patients finally died of the worsening condition after chemotherapy. \n \n \nConclusions \nHVLPD is closely associated with chronic active EBV infection. Its clinical symptoms can be relieved after immunomodulatory therapies such as glucocorticoids, gamma globulin and interferon, and the clinical manifestations, treatment outcomes and prognosis vary greatly among different patients. \n \n \nKey words: \nLymphoproliferative disorders;\xa0Lymphoma, T-cell;\xa0Herpesvirus 4, human;\xa0Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoproliferative disorder