RAB27A mutation in a patient with griscelli syndrome type 2, successfully cured by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Sustained remission

Abstract

Griscelli syndrome (GS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. It features with clinical constellation of skin hypopigmentation, silvery-gray hair, associated with neurological involvement (type I), or defective cell-mediated immunity with hemophagocytosis (type II) that leads to recurrent infection, and patients succumb to death in early childhood or isolated “quiet” GS (type III). To our knowledge, more than sixty patients have been reported mainly from the Mediterranean region with the first reported Saudi cases, reported by Harfi et al. in 1992. The outcome of GS is guarded if not treated early due to recurrent fulminant infections, disease recurrence, and the impending severity of central nervous system disease. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the single current therapeutic treatment for GS II. HSCT, therefore, should be performed as early as possible to prevent potential complications. The reported patient had sustained remission and normal hematopoietic function after allogeneic bone marrow transplant from a human leukocyte antigen-identical sibling donor. GS II syndrome should be considered in any child with hypopigmented skin, silvery-gray hair, and primary immunodeficiency. Early recognition and early HSCT intervention are associated with favorable outcome.

Keywords

• griscelli type ii
• hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
• rab27a