Targeting plasma cells with daratumumab aids in the treatment of post-transplant autoimmune-like hepatitis.
Rebecca EpperlyTeresa C SantiagoCara E MorinKurt PattonJeff DeyoJohn EshunBrandon M TriplettAkshay SharmaPublished in: Pediatric blood & cancer (2021)
Antibody-mediated autoimmune-like hepatitis is a rare and challenging occurrence after hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). We present the case of a 16-year-old male patient with Ph+ ALL who underwent matched sibling donor HCT and developed autoimmune-like hepatitis after receiving ponatinib for post-HCT maintenance, evidenced by marked plasma cell infiltrate on liver biopsy. He was successfully treated with steroids and daratumumab, an anti-CD38-monoclonal antibody. The dramatic response in this patient warrants expanded investigation of daratumumab for plasma cell-mediated disorders post-HCT. It further highlights that identifying mechanisms of immune-mediated injury can allow for directed therapy and limit exposure to broad immune suppression.