title: Photopheresis in pediatric patients with low-body weight using the UVAR XTS system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Photopheresis (ECP) with the UVAR XTS system has been limited to patients with a body weight > 40 kg, because extracorporeal blood volumes (ECV) may exceed 15% of the total blood volumes in low-body-weight patients. Because of these instrument characteristics, the use of ECP is limited in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 5 patients (age 4 to 15 years) with graft-versus-host disease and with a body weight between 13 and 34 kilograms, photopheresis was performed using the UVAR XTS system. In 3 patients ECP could be performed by balancing the ECV with saline infusions. In 2 patients the system was modified in that the instrument was primed with packed red cells. During the treatment, fluid balance was guaranteed by a reservoir from a transfusion bag connected in parallel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Together 223 procedures were performed, among them 28 with the modification of the system. The treatments were well tolerated, and no episodes of hypotension were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to run ECP in low-body weight patients with the UVAR XTS system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Duisburg-Essen, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany. uwe.hillen@uk-essen.de
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hillen
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schadendorf
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kremens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017893:Photopheresis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D013851:Thinness / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome