Clinical Drug Experience Knowledgebase

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a rare congenital syndrome associated with physical anomalies, short stature, red cell aplasia, and an increased risk of malignancy.

Mutations affecting genes encoding ribosomal proteins cause DBA. Genetic studies have identified heterozygous mutations in at least one of eight ribosomal protein genes in up to 50% of cases.

25% of patients carry a mutation in the ribosomal protein (RP)S19 gene, whereas mutations in RPS24, RPS17, RPL35A, RPL11, and RPL5 are rare.

p53 activation has been identified as a key component in the pathophysiology of DBA after cellular and molecular studies. Other potential mechanisms that warrant further investigation include impaired translation as the result of ribosomal insufficiency, which may be ameliorated by Leucine supplementation.

Despite significant improvements in understanding of the pathophysiology of Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA), there have been few advances in therapy. The cornerstones of treatment remain corticosteroids,chronic red blood cell transfusions, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, each of which is fraught with complications. Other treatments have been shown to be effective in only a few patients or in individual case reports : IL-3, cyclosporine (alone or in combination with steroids), metaclopramide. Gene therapy is still a part of research programs.

There are some indications that the Amino Acid (AA) L-leucine, a translation enhancer, may have some efficacy in DBA and 5q-syndrome, which has the same altered ribosome functions as the DBA. L-leucine is an essential AA that is unique among the branched-chain AA acting as a nutrient regulator of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue.

Several preclinical studies with DBA lymphocytes exposed to various L-leucine doses, have demonstrated that protein synthesis can be increased by using high doses L-leucine.

Recent clinical data on L-leucine therapeutic use have demonstrated increase the hemoglobin level and transfusion independence in patients with DBA and 5q-syndrom.

These data support the rationale for clinical trial on L-leucine use as a therapeutic agent for DBA patients.