title: Extracorporeal photochemotherapy treatment for acute lung rejection episode.
abstract: METHODS
  We investigated extracorporeal photochemotherapy--which consists of the collection of blood mononuclear cells by means of a cell separator, their exposure to ultraviolet A light in the presence of a photoactivatable molecule such as 8-methoxypsoralen, and their intravenous reinjection into the patient--for the treatment of an acute lung rejection episode in a severely infected patient, assuming that its mechanism of action is an immunomodulation rather than an actual immunosuppression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three weeks after the simultaneous beginning of antiinfectious and extracorporeal photochemotherapy treatments, the patient improved clinically. Acute lung rejection was no longer detectable histologically 4 weeks after the beginning of extracorporeal photochemotherapy. Twenty-two months after the beginning of extracorporeal photochemotherapy (47 months after transplantation), the patient was living a normal life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe this treatment may be considered for further studies not only in acute lung rejection therapy when intensive immunosuppression is contraindicated but also as a means of rejection prevention.
authors.affiliation: Blood Bank, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Broussais, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andreu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Achkar
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Couetil
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guillemain
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Heshmati
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amrein
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chevalier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guinvarch
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Dore
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Capron
mesh_terms: D002469:Cell Separation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016041:Heart-Lung Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000601:surgery*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents