title: Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation with in vivo T-cell depletion for life threatening refractory systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: We report the first Australian application of autologous haemopoietic stem cell transplantation in a 39-year old woman with severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and multiple life threatening complications, refractory to conventional therapy including intravenous cyclophosphamide. Our transplant technique, although not unique, differs from most published reports, in which an unmanipulated peripheral stem cell graft was used with in vivo lymphocyte depletion using rabbit antithymocyte globulin (ATG). Successful stem cell mobilization was achieved using granulocytecolony stimulating factor mobilization with methylprednisolone cover, after an initial attempt at mobilization was curtailed by respiratory arrest from upper airway obstruction due to cricoarytenoiditis, requiring tracheostomy. Conditioning regimen for the transplantation was cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg on days -5 to -2 and rabbit ATG 2.2 mg/kg on days -3 and -2. An unmanipulated autograft was infused, with in vivo T-cell depletion achieved through a further dose of ATG given on day +2 postinfusion. The autologous transplant was well tolerated without fever or other serious complication. At 12 months follow-up post-transplantation, there is an objective evidence of near-complete response with SLE disease activity index scores falling from 40 pretransplant to 2. We conclude that HSCT with unmanipulated peripheral stem cell graft and in vivo lymphocyte depletion with ATG is safe and effective therapy for cyclophosphamide refractory SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, The Canberra Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talaulikar
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Tymms
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Prosser
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000628:therapy*; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous