title: Positive effect of erythrocyte-delivered dexamethasone in ataxia-telangiectasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) is a rare, devastating neurodegenerative disease presenting with early-onset ataxia, oculocutaneous telangiectasia, immunodeficiency, radiosensitivity, and proneness to cancer. In a previous phase 2 study, we showed that 6 monthly infusions of autologous erythrocytes loaded with dexamethasone (EryDex; EryDel, Urbino, Italy) were effective in improving neurologic impairment in young patients with AT. The present article reports the results of the extension of this study for an additional 24-month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  After the end of the first trial, 4 patients continued to be treated with monthly EryDex infusions for an additional 24 months, and their clinical outcome was compared with that of 7 age-matched patients who stopped the treatment after the first 6 infusions. The protocol included serial assessment of ataxia (by International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale) and adaptive behavior (by Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales) and clinical and laboratory tests revealing treatment- and steroid-dependent adverse effects, if present.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the extended study experienced a continuous neurologic improvement with respect to their pretreatment status, whereas controls showed a progressive neurologic deterioration (according to the natural history of the disease) after the discontinuation of the treatment. The delivery system we adopted proved to be safe and well-tolerated, and none of the side effects usually associated with the chronic administration of corticosteroids were observed during the entire trial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These promising preliminary results call for a large-scale controlled study on protracted treatment of patients with AT with dexamethasone-loaded erythrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leuzzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Micheli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Agnano
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molinaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Tullia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Venturi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plebani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Annarosa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soresina
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierino
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferremi Leali
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Quinti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pietrogrande
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finocchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fazzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chessa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Child Neurology and Psychiatry (V.L., D.D., T.V.), Department of Molecular Medicine (I.Q.), and Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (L.C.), Sapienza University of Rome, Italy; Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry (R.M., E.F.), Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Pediatrics Clinic (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), and Institute of Molecular Medicine A. Nocivelli (A.P., A.S., M. Marini, P.F.L.), Spedali Civili and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; School in Reproductive and Developmental Science (A.M.), University of Trieste and University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (M.C.P.), University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; Department of Pediatrics (A.F.), Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Sciences (M. Magnani), University of Urbino "Carlo Bo," Urbino, Italy; and EryDel SpA (M. Magnani), Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magnani