Successful allogeneic bone marrow transplantation using immunosuppressive conditioning regimen for a patient with red blood cell transfusiondependent pyruvate kinase deficiency anemia

Abstract

Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD) is the rare glycolytic enzyme defect causing hemolytic anemia. Treatments are mainly red cell transfusion and/or splenectomy, leading to iron overload. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is alternatively curative treatment for severe PKD. The intensity of conditioning is often controversial because of higher risk of graft failure and organ damage. Here, we present a transfusion-dependent PKD patient undergoing BMT from an HLA-identical sibling using intensively immunosuppressive conditioning regimen. This report suggests that BMT using immunosuppressive conditioning regimen may be a feasible and effective treatment for patients with severe PKD with iron overload. We suggest the timing of the transplantation at an earlier age in severe PKD predicted from gene mutation is preferred before cumulative damage of transfusion.

Keywords: Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD); allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation; immunosuppressive conditioning regimen.