Induction of autologous graft-versus-host disease after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Autologous graft-versus-host disease has been reported after the administration of cyclosporine in patients who have received autologous bone marrow transplantation.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether autologous graft-versus-host disease could be induced in recipients of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation and whether tacrolimus induced the disease instead of cyclosporine.


METHODS
Twelve patients with acute leukemia and 5 patients with malignant lymphoma received either cyclosporine (1 mg/kg/day) or tacrolimus (0. 05 mg/kg/day) orally after autologous bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.


RESULTS
Autologous graft-versus-host disease of the skin, confirmed by histopathologic criteria, occurred in 40% of the patients at 8 to 25 days after transplantation and lasted 3 to 15 days. The frequency of autologous graft-versus-host disease was approximately the same (40%) irrespective of the source of the graft (bone marrow cells or peripheral blood stem cells) and the drug used for induction (cyclosporine or tacrolimus).


CONCLUSIONS
This pilot study suggests that autologous graft-versus-host disease can be induced in recipients of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation by cyclosporine or tacrolimus.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000628:therapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome