title: Successful reversal of recalcitrant hepatic allograft rejection by photopheresis.
abstract: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an immunologic modality that has shown efficacy in the treatment of clonal T-cell diseases, including Sézary syndrome and allograft rejection. In this case report, we expand on this observation to include recalcitrant hepatic allograft rejection. A 14-year-old boy with hepatic allograft rejection refractory to high-dose corticosteroid and lymphocytolytic therapy was treated with 4 sessions of ECP over a 6-week period. After 2 sessions, a liver biopsy showed complete reversal of acute cell-mediated rejection. No opportunistic infections or other adverse events were noted. Photopheresis appears to be a safe and effective modality for the treatment of refractory hepatic allograft rejection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lehrer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruchelli
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Olthoff
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Rook
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D017893:Photopheresis; D012074:Remission Induction