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Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms

Erdheim–Chester disease: a rapidly evolving disease model

Leukemia volume 34, pages 2840–2857 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Erdheim–Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis with a putative neoplastic and inflammatory nature. The disease is driven by mutations in proto-oncogenes such as BRAF and MEK, while immune-mediated mechanisms contribute to disease development and progression. The clinical presentation of ECD is highly heterogeneous, ranging from smouldering unifocal forms to multiorgan life-threatening disease. Almost any organ can be involved, but the most common lesions include long-bone involvement, retroperitoneal fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, pericardial and myocardial infiltration, CNS, retro-orbital, and large-vessel involvement. These manifestations may mimic those of neoplastic and systemic immune-mediated diseases. Overlap with these conditions represents an emerging challenge for the clinician. A variety of treatments are efficacious for ECD, targeting both the MAPK-pathway and the immune-mediated pathomechanisms. The traditional approach is based on immunomodulatory agents (interferon-α), but recent alternatives—including anti-cytokine therapies (IL1- and TNFα-blockers) and immunosuppressants (mTOR-inhibitors)—showed promising results. However, since the detection of MAPK pathway activation in most patients and the dramatic efficacy of BRAF and MEK inhibitors, these targeted treatments represent the first-line approach in patients with severe disease forms. High rates of radiologic responses do not often mean clinical remission, especially for CNS involvement, which often results in chronic disability. This review will outline the main clinical features of ECD, with emphasis on the emerging challenges in pathogenesis and management, and on the role of recent targeted approaches.

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Fig. 1: Histopathology.
Fig. 2: Pathogenesis.
Fig. 3: Macroscopic appearance of typical ECD lesions.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully thank Dr. Annamaria Buccoliero for providing some of the histological images and Prof. Carlo Salvarani for reviewing the table on differential diagnosis. AV was supported by the 2019 grant of the Histio UK.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Sciences, University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy

    Francesco Pegoraro & Valerio Maniscalco

  2. Sorbonne University, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux, Internal Medicine 2, Histiocytosis National Reference Centre, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France

    Matthias Papo

  3. INSERM UMR1163 and CNRS URL 8254, Imagine Institute, Paris, France

    Matthias Papo

  4. Service d’Anatomie Pathologique, Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France

    Frédéric Charlotte

  5. Sorbonne Université, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Service de Médecine Interne 2 maladies auto-immunes et systémiques, Centre National de Références des Histiocytoses, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France

    Julien Haroche

  6. Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Firenze, and Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital, Firenze, Italy

    Augusto Vaglio

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  1. Francesco Pegoraro
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Correspondence to Augusto Vaglio.

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Pegoraro, F., Papo, M., Maniscalco, V. et al. Erdheim–Chester disease: a rapidly evolving disease model. Leukemia 34, 2840–2857 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-020-0944-4

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