A new clinical score for disease activity in Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an objective tool for assessing disease activity in patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH).


METHODS
Scoring system was developed and applied to a database containing information on 612 patients.


RESULTS
At diagnosis, the score distribution was highly asymmetrical: the score was between 0 and 2 in 74% of cases, 3-6 in 16%, 7-10 in 3%, and more than 10 in 6%. The 5-year mortality rates were 1, 4.4, and 43.4%, respectively, among patients with initial scores of 0-2, 3-6, and >6. Stability or an increase of the score at 6 weeks was highly predictive of death among patients with initial scores above 6, while score stability had no significant impact on vital outcome among patients with low or moderate scores at diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
This LCH disease activity score provides an objective tool for assessing disease severity, both at diagnosis and during follow-up and treatment.
Donadieu
Jean
J
Hôpital Trousseau, 26 avenue du Dr Netter, Paris, France. jean.donadieu@trs.ap-hop-paris.fr
Piguet
C
C
Bernard
F
F
Barkaoui
M
M
Ouache
M
M
Bertrand
Y
Y
Ibrahim
H
H
Emile
J F
JF
Hermine
O
O
Tazi
A
A
Genereau
T
T
Thomas
C
C
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016008:Statistical Distributions; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors