title: Retinal toxic reactions following photopheresis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP), also known as photopheresis, is a generally well-tolerated therapeutic, immunomodulatory approach successfully used in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and other diseases produced by T-lymphocytes such as graft vs host disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  On 2 separate occasions, a 54-year-old white man with Sézary syndrome developed cutaneous phototoxic reactions and chorioretinitis after being treated with ECP. A pharmacokinetic study showed therapeutic blood levels of 8-methoxypsoralen as long as 18 weeks after therapy had been terminated. However, the analysis of mutations in genes involved in the drug's disposition could not explain these abnormal levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, there has been no previous description of ECP-related retinal toxic effects. This adverse effect was probably linked to impaired drug elimination. Further studies would be needed to determine the underlying mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, University Hospital Infanta Cristina, Avda Elvas s/n, E-06080 Badajoz, Spain. jvagacev@aehh.org
authors.forename: Jose Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vagace
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gervasini
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benitez
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Argila
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arranz
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bajo
mesh_terms: D002825:Chorioretinitis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008730:Methoxsalen / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D017893:Photopheresis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D008730:Methoxsalen