Successful therapy of refractory graft versus host disease with tacrolimus and Psoralen plus ultraviolet light.
The authors report a patient who developed severe graft versus host disease (GVHD) after undergoing a matched, unrelated bone marrow transplant. Her symptoms worsened despite treatment with cyclosporine, high doses of methylprednisolone, and antithymocyte globulin. After treatment with tacrolimus (FK506) and Psoralen plus ultraviolet light (PUVA), there was complete resolution of all clinical and laboratory evidence of GVHD. This combination may be beneficial to other patients who develop severe GVHD that is resistant to conventional therapy.
Jubran
R F
RF
The Department of Hematology/Oncology, Children's National Medical Center, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20010, USA.
Dinndorf
P A
PA
D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005363:Ficusin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005916:Globulins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy
D005916:Globulins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D005363:Ficusin; D016559:Tacrolimus; D008775:Methylprednisolone