title: Intensive extracorporeal photochemotherapy in pediatric patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD).
abstract: Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) is an alternative treatment approach in the management of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). However, few reports have investigated the optimal treatment schedule of ECP. We treated seven pediatric patients with steroid-resistant or -dependent cGVHD with ECP. Using the Therakos UVAR XTS system, ECP was begun three (three patients) or five (four patients) times a week initially. Complete and partial responses were obtained in three patients. Three of seven patients died of GVHD-related complications. In this group initial intensive ECP did not improve the rate of response. However, this schedule appeared well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Oncology, Mersin University, Zeytinlibahce, Mersin, Turkey. oduzovali@mersin.edu.tr
authors.forename: Oznur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Duzovali
authors.forename: Ka Wah
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome