title: Alefacept in corticosteroid refractory graft versus host disease: early results indicate promising activity.
abstract: Steroid refractory graft versus host disease (GVHD) presents a significant therapeutic challenge due to the limited efficacy and safety of second-line treatments. Three patients with extensively pretreated, refractory GVHD were treated with a targeted anti-T-cell agent, alefacept, and demonstrated rapid and clinically significant improvement in their GVHD, facilitating tapering of corticosteroids. The pathological and immunohistochemical findings of GVHD also improved, validating our clinical impression. These preliminary findings indicate that alefacept may have beneficial activity in GVHD warranting further study.
authors: Bone Marrow Transplantation Program, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA.
authors: Amir A
authors: AA
authors: Toor
authors: Patrick J
authors: PJ
authors: Stiff
authors: Brian J
authors: BJ
authors: Nickoloff
authors: Tulio
authors: T
authors: Rodriguez
authors: Jared L
authors: JL
authors: Klein
authors: Kenneth B
authors: KB
authors: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000077944:Alefacept; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D018801:CD2 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000628:therapy; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000628:therapy; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000077944:Alefacept