A girl with a novel nonsense mutation in Chediak-Higashi syndrome was relieved successfully by treatment with HCST and UCBT: a case report

Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a life-threatening autosomal recessive immunodeficiency disease presenting with recurrent infections, hypopigmentation, progressive neurodegeneration, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), known as the accelerated stage. Two-thirds of patients experience a fatal accelerated phase. CHS is caused by lysosomal transport regulator (LYST) gene mutations. We report the case of CHS, who was born with pale skin and silver hair. Bone marrow aspirate revealed large inclusions in granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes. Genetic analysis revealed a new nonsense mutation in the LYST gene: c.8186G > A (W2729Ter). The child presented with fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and lymphadenectasis. Laboratory tests showed pancytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia, and high serum ferritin, indicating an accelerated phase of CHS. She underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCST) combined with umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) after HLH-related chemotherapy. The patient has been alive for nine months without recurrence. We have identified a novel nonsense mutation in the LYST gene that correlates with a severe phenotype, and HSCT combined with UCBT is an effective treatment.