Zhi-Yong Gao

Adoptive transfer of cytomegalovirus/Epstein-Barr virus-specific immune effector cells for therapeutic and preventive/preemptive treatment of pediatric allogeneic cell transplant recipients.

This report describes a safe and effective therapy through adoptive transfer of donor cytomegalovirus (CMV)/Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) immune effector cells. The patients, from 3 to 10 years of age, suffering from hematologic diseases received haploidentical transplantation. All 3 patients developed varying levels of viremia from days 13 to 31 and 2 patients developed CMV-interstitial pneumonitis or interstitial inflammation after transplantation. Tapering down the dose of immunosuppressives together with intensive antivirus therapy and escalated infusions of donor-derived CMV/EBV immune effector cells effectively controlled virus-related diseases. All 3 patients survived and remained CMV/EBV-free 14-16 months after transplantation.

Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for a case with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease.

CGD is a rare primary immunodeficiency with high mortality rates when treated conventionally, especially for the X‐chromosome‐linked form. HSCT is the only curative therapy for CGD; however, haploidentical transplantation in CGD is rare. Here, we report a case of X‐linked CGD treated successfully by haploidentical HSCT. The patient showed a positive result with full donor chimerism, good quality of life, and the absence of recurrent infectious diseases at follow‐up (68 months). Thus, haploidentical HSCT may serve as an acceptable treatment approach for patients who have CGD, but no HLA‐matched related or unrelated donor.