title: Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in a patient with chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenia.
abstract: Immunoablation by high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) is one approach currently under discussion for the treatment and possible cure of patients with severe autoimmune diseases. Chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) can be refractory to current therapies and in severe cases may constitute a life-threatening condition. We performed autologous PBSCT with T-cell depletion in a patient with severe chronic ITP but observed no effect on platelet levels. This contrasts with a recent report where complete remission was induced by a similar regimen in two patients with ITP Further studies will be necessary to identify subgroups of patients who might benefit from this form of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Skoda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tichelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tyndall
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gillessen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gratwohl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000628:therapy*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous