title: [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].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Debreceni Egyetem, Orvos- és Egészségtudományi Centrum, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, Belgyógyászati III. Belgyógyászati Klinika, Belgyógyászati Intézet Debrecen. laszlo.varoczy@freemail.hu
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Váróczy
authors.forename: Arpád
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Illés
authors.forename: Emese
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szekanecz
authors.forename: Pál
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soltész
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sipka
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: Miklós
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Udvardy
authors.forename: Gyula
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szegedi
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeher
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents