[Methotrexate for treatment of graft versus host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose methotrexate in patients with graft versus host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT).


METHODS
Thirty-one patients with minor or moderate grade acute GVHD (aGVHD), chronic GVHD (cGVHD) or GVHD post donor lymphocyte infusion (post-DLI GVHD) after Allo-HSCT received intravenously administrated methotrexate at a dose of 5 or 10mg every 5 to 7 days until achieving complete or partial responses, treatment failure or intolerable side effects.


RESULTS
The overall response rate was 93.8% (15/16 patients) in patients with aGVHD, 75% (12/16 patients) in patients with cGVHD and 100% (2/2 in patients) with post-DLI GVHD. The response rate for GVHD involving organs was 100% in skin, 60% in gut, 71% in liver, 75% in mouth and 100% in eyes. Side effects were minor. During the therapy, the other immunosuppressive agents were reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term low-dose methotrexate is a tolerable and effective regimen for patients with minor or moderate grade aGVHD, cGVHD or post-DLI GVHD after Allo-HSCT.
Huang
Xiao-jun
XJ
Institute of Hematology, Peking University, People Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.
Jiang
Qian
Q
Chen
Huan
H
Xu
Lan-ping
LP
Liu
Dai-hong
DH
Chen
Yu-hong
YH
Han
Wei
W
Zhang
Yao-chen
YC
Liu
Kai-yan
KY
Lu
Dao-pei
DP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000628:therapy; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000628:therapy*; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008727:Methotrexate