Lisa Devlin

Objective To determine and compare the prevalence of MSH6 (a mismatch repair gene) mutations in a cohort of families with Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC), and in an unselected cohort of endometrial cancer patients (EC). Design Two patient cohorts participated in the study. A cohort of HNPCC families who were known to the Regional Medical Genetics department, and an unselected cohort of patients with a history of EC. All participants received genetic counselling on the implications of molecular testing, and blood was taken for DNA extraction with consent. All samples underwent sequencing and Multiple Ligation probe analysis (MLPA) for mutations in MSH6. Populations DNA from one hundred and forty-three probands from HNPCC families and 125 patients with EC were included in the study. Methods Molecular analysis of DNA in all participants from both cohorts for mutations in MSH6. Outcome measures Prevalence of pathogenic mutations in MSH6. Results A truncating mutation ...

Introduction The Northern Ireland Regional Immunology Service (NIRIS) has developed an expedited omalizumab home self-administration pathway to reduce face-to-face clinic attendance during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This audit evaluates the safety of this pathway with a particular focus on anaphylaxis. Objectives This study aimed to retrospectively audit the records of 39 patients undertaking expedited home self-administration at NIRIS for complications, particularly emergency department attendance for anaphylaxis. The target was for 100% of patients to complete a six-month course without experiencing anaphylaxis related to omalizumab administration. Materials and methods A total of 39 records of patients who underwent expedited omalizumab self-administration were audited by a single reviewer. They were prospectively collected between March 2020 and August 2021. Clinical data were collected from the Northern Ireland Electronic Care Record (NIECR). Results Hundred percent of patients were in the process of completing or had completed a six-dose course without anaphylaxis. During the course of omalizumab, 7.6% of patients attended the emergency department. Zero percent of patients have experienced anaphylaxis triggered by omalizumab. The target of 100% patients completing the expedited pathway without omalizumab-related anaphylaxis was met. Conclusion Home self-administration of omalizumab is preferred by patients and clinicians for reducing expense, travel, and unnecessary clinical contact during the COVID-19 pandemic. An expedited omalizumab home self-administration training pathway appears to be safe in a population of Northern Irish patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). More research is needed to determine whether the expedited pathway should become the standard of care post-pandemic

Purpose To define the burden of morbidity and mortality arising from COVID-19 in individuals with primary (PID) and secondary immunodeficiency (SID) in the United Kingdom. Methods In March 2020, the United Kingdom Primary Immunodeficiency Network (UKPIN) established a registry of cases to collate the outcomes of individuals with PID and SID following SARS-CoV-2 infection and treatment. Anonymised demographic data, pre-SARS-CoV-2 infection lymphocyte counts, co-morbidities, targeted treatments and outcomes were collected. Three groups were analysed in further detail: individuals with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), individuals with any PID, including CVID, receiving immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IgRT) and individuals with secondary immunodeficiency. Results A total of 310 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in individuals with PID or SID have now been reported in the UK. The overall mortality within the cohort was 17.7% (n = 55/310). Individuals with CVID demonstrated an inf...

The epidemiology of inborn errors of immunity (IEI) in the Republic of Ireland was first published in 2005 but has not been updated since. IEI prevalence data from Northern Ireland was last published in 2018. Using data from the United Kingdom Primary Immune Deficiency (UKPID) and European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID) registries, we reviewed all registered cases of IEI affecting adult patients ≥18 years of age from the two largest immunology specialist centres in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland respectively, and calculated the combined minimum adult prevalence of IEI on the island of Ireland for the first time. We also recorded data pertaining to presenting symptoms of IEI, diagnostic delay, immunoglobulin data, and genetic testing, as well as briefly reporting data pertaining to secondary immunodeficiency in both countries. We identified a minimum adult IEI prevalence in Ireland of 8.85/100,000 population (1:11,299).

The response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been hampered by lack of an effective severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antiviral therapy. Here we report the use of remdesivir in a patient with COVID-19 and the prototypic genetic antibody deficiency X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA). Despite evidence of complement activation and a robust T cell response, the patient developed persistent SARS-CoV-2 pneumonitis, without progressing to multi-organ involvement. This unusual clinical course is consistent with a contribution of antibodies to both viral clearance and progression to severe disease. In the absence of these confounders, we take an experimental medicine approach to examine the in vivo utility of remdesivir. Over two independent courses of treatment, we observe a temporally correlated clinical and virological response, leading to clinical resolution and viral clearance, with no evidence of acquired drug resistance. We therefore p...

The response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been hampered by lack of an effective severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antiviral therapy. Here we report the successful use of remdesivir in a patient with COVID-19 and the prototypic genetic antibody deficiency X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA). Despite evidence of complement activation and a robust T cell response, the patient developed persistent SARS-CoV-2 pneumonitis, without progressing to multi-organ involvement. His unusual clinical course identifies a key role for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in both viral clearance and progression to severe disease. In the absence of these confounders, we took an experimental medicine approach to examine the in vivoutility of remdesivir. Over two independent courses of treatment, we observed a dramatic, temporally correlated clinical and virological response, leading to clinical resolution and viral clearance, with no evidence of acquired drug resist...

Introduction Due to perceived risk of anaphylaxis, home treatment with omalizumab has been limited. Within the UK, most centres administer omalizumab in a hospital setting. However, the reported prevalence of anaphylaxis is low and in December 2018 home treatment became licensed. A home treatment pathway was previously reported by one UK centre, and this update describes three UK centres’ experience of home omalizumab treatment. Methods The medical records of omalizumab patients were retrospectively reviewed. Results A total of 137 adult patients have received home omalizumab treatment; home treatment duration 0–44 months. There was no increase in adverse effects seen in patients treated at home. There were no reported adherence issues and no reduction in efficacy. Patients report they prefer home treatment due to increased flexibility and reduced impact on daily life/work. Conclusion Home treatment with omalizumab is a safe and effective alternative to hospital administration.

Gain of function mutations in signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (GOF-STAT1) cause a susceptibility to a range of infections, autoimmunity, immune dysregulation, and combined immunodeficiency. Disease manifestations can be mild or severe and life threatening. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been utilized in some patients with more severe symptoms to treat and cure the disorder. The outcome of HSCT for this disorder is, however, not well established. To aggregate the worldwide experience of HSCT in GOF-STAT1 patients and to assess outcomes including donor engraftment, overall survival, graft versus host disease, and transplant related complications. Data were collected from an international cohort of 15 GOF-STAT1 patients that had undergone HSCT using a variety of conditioning regimens and donor sources. Retrospective data collection allowed the outcome of transplantation to be assessed. In vitro functional testing was performed to confirm that each...

The X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) deficiency is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-driven hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), splenomegaly, and colitis. Here, we present, for the first time, granulomatous hepatitis and granulomatous and lymphocytic interstitial lung disease (GLILD) as manifestations of XIAP deficiency. We report successful treatment of GLILD in XIAP deficiency with rituximab and azathioprine and discuss the role of XIAP deficiency in immune dysregulation.

To determine and compare the prevalence of MSH6 (a mismatch repair gene) mutations in a cohort of families with Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC), and in an unselected cohort of endometrial cancer patients (EC). Two patient cohorts participated in the study. A cohort of HNPCC families who were known to the Regional Medical Genetics department, and an unselected cohort of patients with a history of EC. All participants received genetic counselling on the implications of molecular testing, and blood was taken for DNA extraction with consent. All samples underwent sequencing and Multiple Ligation probe analysis (MLPA) for mutations in MSH6. DNA from one hundred and forty-three probands from HNPCC families and 125 patients with EC were included in the study. Molecular analysis of DNA in all participants from both cohorts for mutations in MSH6. Prevalence of pathogenic mutations in MSH6. A truncating mutation in MSH6 was identified in 3.8% (95% CI 1.0-9.5%) of patients in the endometrial cancer cohort, and 2.6% (95% CI 0.5-7.4%) of patients in the HNPCC cohort. A missense mutation was identified in 2.9% and 4.4% of the same cohorts respectively. No genomic rearrangements in MSH6 were identified. MSH6 mutations are more common in EC patients than HNPCC families. Genomic rearrangements do not contribute to a significant proportion of mutations in MSH6, but missense variants are relatively common and their pathogenicity can be uncertain. HNPCC families may be ascertained through an individual presenting with EC, and recognition of these families is important so that appropriate cancer surveillance can be put in place.

Gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) result in unbalanced STAT signaling and cause immune dysregulation and immunodeficiency. The latter is often characterized by the susceptibility to recurrent Candida infections, resulting in the clinical picture of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC). This study aims to assess the frequency of GOF STAT1 mutations in a large international cohort of CMC patients. STAT1 was sequenced in genomic DNA from 57 CMC patients and 35 healthy family members. The functional relevance of nine different STAT1 variants was shown by flow cytometric analysis of STAT1 phosphorylation in patients' peripheral blood cells (PBMC) after stimulation with interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-γ or interleukin-27 respectively. Extended clinical data sets were collected and summarized for 26 patients. Heterozygous mutations within STAT1 were identified in 35 of 57 CMC patients (61 %). Out of 39 familial cases from 11 f...

To determine and compare the prevalence of MSH6 (a mismatch repair gene) mutations in a cohort of families with Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC), and in an unselected cohort of endometrial cancer patients (EC). Two patient cohorts participated in the study. A cohort of HNPCC families who were known to the Regional Medical Genetics department, and an unselected cohort of patients with a history of EC. All participants received genetic counselling on the implications of molecular testing, and blood was taken for DNA extraction with consent. All samples underwent sequencing and Multiple Ligation probe analysis (MLPA) for mutations in MSH6. DNA from one hundred and forty-three probands from HNPCC families and 125 patients with EC were included in the study. Molecular analysis of DNA in all participants from both cohorts for mutations in MSH6. Prevalence of pathogenic mutations in MSH6. A truncating mutation in MSH6 was identified in 3.8% (95% CI 1.0-9.5%) of patients i...

Hyperimmunoglobulin D and periodic fever syndrome (HIDS) is a rare, autoinflammatory condition caused by mutations in the mevalonate kinase gene. There is no standard treatment for HIDS, and randomized controlled trials are lacking. Corticosteroids, colchicine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, statins, and cyclosporine are of limited efficacy in controlling this condition. Recent case reports suggest that most patients respond to etanercept or anakinra. Interleukin 6 blockade in HIDS has not been described. We report the case of a 13-year-old girl with HIDS, who failed to respond to colchicine, corticosteroids, etanercept, and anakinra but was successfully treated with the anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody, tocilizumab.

To determine and compare the prevalence of MSH6 (a mismatch repair gene) mutations in a cohort of families with Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC), and in an unselected cohort of endometrial cancer patients (EC). Two patient cohorts participated in the study. A cohort of HNPCC families who were known to the Regional Medical Genetics department, and an unselected cohort of patients with a history of EC. All participants received genetic counselling on the implications of molecular testing, and blood was taken for DNA extraction with consent. All samples underwent sequencing and Multiple Ligation probe analysis (MLPA) for mutations in MSH6. DNA from one hundred and forty-three probands from HNPCC families and 125 patients with EC were included in the study. Molecular analysis of DNA in all participants from both cohorts for mutations in MSH6. Prevalence of pathogenic mutations in MSH6. A truncating mutation in MSH6 was identified in 3.8% (95% CI 1.0-9.5%) of patients i...

Primary immune deficiencies of natural killer (NK) cells have been described in patients with a susceptibility to herpes infections. To assess the diagnostic utility of measurement of NK cytotoxicity in patients with recurrent oral herpes infections. A retrospective audit was carried out on results obtained over an 18-month period, from 28 NK cell cytotoxicity assays (24 patients; all with a history of recurrent oral herpes infections), and 24 control samples (three healthy donors). Percentage specific cytotoxicity (PSC) was determined by measurement of the percentage of K562 target cells lysed by NK cells after incubation, using the NK TEST. Comparison of PSC was made with reference ranges provided. No patient with absent NK/NKT cells or NK cell cytotoxicity was identified (95% CI 0 to 14.8%). Two patients had persistently low PSC. Two patients with reduced PSC showed PSC within the normal reference range on repeat testing. Patient and control samples were seen both above and below the reference ranges. A relationship was expected between NK cell percentage and PSC; however this correlation was not significant (r(s)=0.29, p=0.18, 95% CI -0.14 to 0.63). A deficiency of NK cell cytotoxicity has not been identified in this cohort. An apparent reduction in cytotoxicity may be due to normal interpersonal and intersample variability in NK cytotoxicity. Without reference ranges established from a large population of control samples to account for this, a reduction in PSC is difficult to define. Further studies are required to identify if a correlation exists between the percentage of NK cells and PSC.