The Pediatric Transplant & Cellular Therapy: Spotlight on Immune Effector Cell HLH Like Syndrome symposium, held on March 13, 2025 at Duke University, brought together approximately 100 attendees in a hybrid format, both in-person and virtually. The event focused on the diagnosis, management, and emerging therapies for IEC-HLH like syndrome, a complex and rare condition that requires multi-disciplinary collaboration for effective patient care. The symposium featured expert-led presentations covering the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and current diagnostic criteria for HLH and the “hyper-inflammatory” syndromes immune effector cell- related, especially after CART cell therapy.
A key highlight of the event was the interactive discussions, where specialists from around the world, including experts from the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI), the American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT), and the European Blood and Marrow Transplant (EBMT) Group, exchanged knowledge and insights. These sessions provided a platform for participants to engage in meaningful conversations about the latest treatment strategies, as well as the challenges and future directions for IEC therapies.
The symposium also included in-depth discussions on how hyper-inflammatory disorders, including IEC-HLH like syndrome, could inform the management of pediatric patients and shape future treatment protocols. There was a special emphasis on the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, with attendees sharing best practices across specialties to enhance patient outcomes.
We hope that the event not only provided valuable educational content but also sparked important dialogue that will continue to inform the future of care for children with IEC-HLH like syndrome.