Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
Thrombocytopenia is usually present at birth. However, near-normal platelet counts in the newborn period followed by chronic thrombocytopenia have been reported. Intracranial bleeding is a potential early life-threatening complication. Intermittent mucosal bleeding and bloody diarrhea are commonly observed, as are intermittent or chronic petechiae and purpura. The cumulative incidence of severe bleeding at age 15 and 30 years were 33% and 49%, respectively, and contributes to 23% of mortality in individuals with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome [Vallée et al 2024]. Platelet counts do not adequately represent bleeding risk in an individual with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome [Albert et al 2010].
Thrombocytopenia may be reversed by splenectomy; however, recurrent thrombocytopenia associated with the development of immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) is observed in some splenectomized individuals, more so in those with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome compared to those with XLT [Rivers et al 2019a].
Eczema occurs in about 80% of males with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome [Sullivan et al 1994]. The severity varies from mild to severe and tends to be worse in males with a family history of allergies and asthma.
Immunodeficiency. Boys with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome are susceptible to recurrent bacterial, viral, fungal, and opportunistic infections, particularly recurrent ear infections. Skin infections including impetigo, cellulitis, and abscesses are common. Infections by opportunistic agents including cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and adenovirus are common. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia is a possible early life-threatening complication.
The overall incidence of any severe infections is 0.11 per patient-year (0.10-0.13). About half of individuals with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome have a severe infection by age 15 years, and severe infections contribute to 27% of the mortality in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome [Vallée et al 2024]. There is an increased risk of mortality secondary to bacterial sepsis from encapsulated organisms including Streptococcus pneumonia,
Haemophilus influenzae type B, and opportunistic infections. Splenectomy, commonly performed in the past to increase platelet counts and reduce risk of fatal hemorrhage, increases the risk of overwhelming bacterial infection.
Autoimmune disorders. The risk of developing an autoimmune disorder increases with age. Roughly 25%-40% of males who survive the early complications of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome develop one or more autoimmune conditions including hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells), immune thrombocytopenic purpura, immune-mediated neutropenia, rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis of small and large vessels, and immune-mediated damage to the kidneys and liver [Chen et al 2015, Vallée et al 2024]. For a comprehensive review of autoimmunity in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, see Schurman & Candotti [2003], Catucci et al [2012], and Sudhakar et al [2021].
High serum immunoglobulin (Ig) M concentration in young children prior to splenectomy may be a risk factor for the development of autoimmune hemolytic anemia [Dupuis-Girod et al 2003]; however, the predictive value of this finding awaits confirmation by other investigators.
The presence of an autoimmune disorder significantly increases the risk of developing lymphoma [Sullivan et al 1994, Schurman & Candotti 2003].
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) corrects autoimmunity in individuals with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome [Pai et al 2006, Burroughs et al 2020, Sudhakar et al 2021].
Lymphoma. Individuals with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, particularly those who have been exposed to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), have a high risk of developing lymphomas, which often occur in unusual extranodal locations such as the brain, lung, or gastrointestinal tract. Although B-cell lymphomas predominate, EBV-associated T-cell lymphomas and Hodgkin lymphomas have also been reported. Approximately 15% of individuals with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome develop lymphoma at an average age of 30 years [Vallée et al 2024]. The risk of developing lymphoma increases with age and in the presence of autoimmune disease [Schurman & Candotti 2003, Vallée et al 2024].
The prognosis of individuals with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome following conventional chemotherapy is poorer than that of age-matched normal controls. Individuals with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome have a significant risk of relapse or development of a second de novo lymphoma. Individuals with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome and lymphoma should undergo allogeneic HSCT to increase their chances of relapse-free survival.
Only three other non-hematologic malignancies were reported in individuals with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, including glioma, acoustic neuroma, and testicular carcinoma. To date, it is unknown if the risk of non-hematologic malignancy is increased in individuals with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.
Life span. The reported overall survival was 78% at age 15 years (95% confidence interval [CI] = 74-82) and at age 30 years 65% (95% CI = 58-73) [Vallée et al 2024]. The causes of deaths include infection (27% of individuals), bleeding (23%), HSCT-related adverse events (16%), and malignancy (7%) [Vallée et al 2024]. Survival into adulthood occurs, particularly given the improvement in medical treatment of this disorder over the last 20 years. HSCT provides a potential cure for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, with a three-year overall survival of more than 85% [Burroughs et al 2020, Albert et al 2022].