[High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous CD34+ stem cell transplantation in the treatment of severe refractory multisystem autoimmune diseases of adults--first experiences in Hungary].
High dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell support is a promising therapeutical approach in the treatment of severe refractory multisystem autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to perform the authors' first experiences in this field.


RESULTS
Between August 2006 and November 2007 autologous stem cell transplantation was performed for seven patients: two of them had systemic lupus erythematosus, four of them had rheumatoid arthritis and one of them had systemic sclerosis. Cyclophosphamide plus colony stimulating factor were administered to mobilize stem cells. The conditioning protocol included high dose cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg) and anti-thymocyte globulin (9 mg/kg). The re-infused stem cells were successfully engrafted by all patients. One of the lupus patients died on the 46th day due to a lethal cytomegalovirus infection, but the rest of them had no severe complications. Complete remission of their diseases and significant improvement in their quality of life were observed during a mean follow-up period of 10 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Autologous stem cell therapy can be effectively administered in special cases of severe autoimmune disorders.
Váróczy
László
L
Debreceni Egyetem, Orvos- és Egészségtudományi Centrum, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, Belgyógyászati III. Belgyógyászati Klinika, Belgyógyászati Intézet Debrecen. laszlo.varoczy@freemail.hu
Illés
Arpád
A
Kiss
Emese
E
Szekanecz
Zoltán
Z
Soltész
Pál
P
Sipka
Sándor
S
Kiss
Attila
A
Udvardy
Miklós
M
Szegedi
Gyula
G
Zeher
Margit
M
D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning / Q000379:methods; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents