title: Fludarabine phosphate may be useful in the treatment of graft-versus-host disease.
abstract: The increasing number of allogeneic stem cell transplantations has made the management of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) a continuing problem for transplantation professionals. GVHD is a complicated disease the treatment of which requires an equally multifaceted approach. Despite therapeutic efforts to decrease its distressing and potentially lethal clinical manifestations, treatment is still not optimal. Fludarabine phosphate is a purine analogue, which is known to cause immunosuppression and long-lasting T-cell lymphopenia it is commonly employed in the therapy of hematological malignancies and non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation conditioning regimens. Myelosuppression, especially leuko- and lymphopenia is the major dose-limiting toxicity of fludarabine. However, a prolonged reduction in CD4+ T-cell count may be a desired effect for the treatment of GVHD. Clinical observations, preclinical data on the management of GVHD and well-known immunosuppressive properties suggest that fludarabine should be tested in clinical grounds for GVHD prophylaxis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oncology, Hacettepe University, 06100 Ankara, Turkey. saksoy07@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sercan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abali
authors.forename: Saadettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kilickap
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dinçer
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047589:Leukocyte Reduction Procedures; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D051379:Mice; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D001084:Vidarabine Phosphate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001084:Vidarabine Phosphate; C042382:fludarabine phosphate