Use of extracorporeal photochemotherapy in heart transplant recipients during acute rejection: a case study.
Despite the growing availability of improved immunosuppressive agents, acute and chronic rejection episodes remain a major complication in heart transplant recipients. The rejection of allografts is a normal part of the body's response to foreign antigens. The key to controlling this response is to administer a regimen of multiple immunosuppressive drugs. Evidence indicates that by adding extracorporeal photochemotherapy to a standard immunomodulatory regimen, the rejection process can be reversed without significantly increasing patient risk. In this case study we examine extracorporeal photochemotherapy and the care of patients receiving this therapy.
University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia.
W H
WH
Macey
B
B
DeNardo
A H
AH
Rook
A
A
Singh
P
P
Bromley
D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008730:Methoxsalen / Q000276:immunology / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D017893:Photopheresis / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing
D008730:Methoxsalen