{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.030197444831591175, 'fraction_numerical': 0.013356562137049941, 'mean_word_length': 6.090534979423868, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 1, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 1, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 1, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Development and resolution of secondary autoimmunity after autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for systemic lupus erythematosus: competition of plasma cells for survival niches?

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an effective treatment for severe autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).1 However, it is increasingly recognised that these patients have an added propensity to develop secondary autoimmune disorders.2 ,3 

Here, we report on a 21-year-old male patient who received a CD34-selected autologous HSCT following conditioning with antithymocyte-globulin and cyclophosphamide (CYC) after written informed consent for refractory, severe SLE with renal, haematological, mucocutaneous and musculoskeletal manifestations (SLEDAI 19).1 Clinical remission was achieved for SLE within 3 months after HSCT and anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies disappeared despite immunosuppressive drug withdrawal. Eight months after HSCT, the patient presented with spontaneous joint and skin bleeding and was diagnosed with factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitor haemophilia with an activated partial thromboplastin time >100 s, FVIII activity <1% and a FVIII inhibitor titre of 435 Bethesda units (figure 1A). At that time point, flow cytometric analyses revealed a drastic increase in B cell numbers, expansion of circulating plasmablasts and a predominance of CD45RO memory CD4 T cells with oligoclonal T cell receptor Vβ expression (table 1), but clinical and laboratory tests showed no evidence of lupus activity. FVIII haemophilia was refractory to methylprednisolone, plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), intravenous CYC, rituximab and extracorporeal …