Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy in the treatment of cutaneous graft-versus-host disease in oncohaematological paediatric patients.
BACKGROUND
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) represents an important complication following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. In recent years, narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB, 311-313 nm) has been found to be a beneficial adjuvant treatment in patients refractory to first-line immunosuppressive drugs.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to analyse retrospectively the clinical outcome of 10 GVHD paediatric patients treated with NB-UVB therapy.


METHODS
Ten paediatric patients (six girls and four boys: median age 12.5 years, range 4-20) with cutaneous GVHD were enrolled in the study: five patients with chronic GVHD and five patients with an overlap syndrome GVHD. All patients had already been shown to be resistant to first-choice immunosuppressive protocols, and were treated with NB-UVB phototherapy until a clinical remission of skin lesions occurred.


RESULTS
A complete response (absence of lesions) was achieved in 80% of the cases (eight patients) after a median number of 29 treatments, corresponding to a median of 7.5 weeks (52 days) of treatment (range 3-13 weeks), with an average cumulative dose of 28.71 J cm(-2) (range 1.02-70.38 J cm(-2)). Only two patients reported a partial remission (< 18% of body surface area involved). During the follow-up period, a complete remission after 1 year was observed in 75% of patients and after 2 years in 71% of the evaluable patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides evidence that NB-UVB phototherapy represents a valid second-line treatment in paediatric patients affected by GVHD and refractory to immunosuppressive first-line treatment.
Brazzelli
V
V
Department of Human and Hereditary Pathology, Institute of Dermatology, University of Pavia and Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Piazzale Golgi 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy. vbrazzelli@libero.it
Grasso
V
V
Muzio
F
F
Moggio
E
E
Zecca
M
M
Locatelli
F
F
Borroni
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000628:therapy; D000742:Anemia, Dyserythropoietic, Congenital / Q000628:therapy; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult