The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, vol.152, no.6, pp.1634-1645, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
Background: LPS-responsive beige-like anchor (LRBA) deficiency (LRBA–/–) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated antigen-4 (CTLA4) insufficiency (CTLA4+/–) are mechanistically overlapped diseases presenting with recurrent infections and autoimmunity. The effectiveness of different treatment regimens remains unknown. Objective: Our aim was to determine the comparative efficacy and long-term outcome of therapy with immunosuppressants, CTLA4-immunoglobulin (abatacept), and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in a single-country multicenter cohort of 98 patients with a 5-year median follow-up. Methods: The 98 patients (63 LRBA–/– and 35 CTLA4+/–) were followed and evaluated at baseline and every 6 months for clinical manifestations and response to the respective therapies. Results: The LRBA–/– patients exhibited a more severe disease course than did the CTLA4+/– patients, requiring more immunosuppressants, abatacept, and HSCT to control their symptoms. Among the 58 patients who received abatacept as either a primary or rescue therapy, sustained complete control was achieved in 46 (79.3%) without severe side effects. In contrast, most patients who received immunosuppressants as primary therapy (n = 61) showed either partial or no disease control (72.1%), necessitating additional immunosuppressants, abatacept, or transplantation. Patients with partial or no response to abatacept (n = 12) had longer disease activity before abatacept therapy, with higher organ involvement and poorer disease outcomes than those with a complete response. HSCT was performed in 14 LRBA–/– patients; 9 patients (64.2%) showed complete remission, and 3 (21.3%) continued to receive immunosuppressants after transplantation. HSCT and abatacept therapy gave rise to similar probabilities of survival. Conclusions: Abatacept is superior to immunosuppressants in controlling disease manifestations over the long term, especially when started early, and it may provide a safe and effective therapeutic alternative to transplantation.