title: High-dose immunoablation with autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in aggressive multiple sclerosis: a single centre 10-year experience.
abstract: There are multiple sclerosis patients who suffer from an aggressive course of the disease with severe relapses and rapid accumulation of disability despite adequate treatment. In such cases high-dose immunoablation with autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) may be considered. Our objective was to report our experience with 26 multiple sclerosis patients treated with ASCT within the years 1998-2008. Twenty-six patients (Expanded Disability Status Scale 2.5-7.5 (median 6.0), multiple sclerosis duration 2-19 years (median 7)) with aggressive multiple sclerosis underwent autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Stem cells were mobilized by high-dose cyclophosphamide and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, BEAM (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan) was used for immunoablation. Patients were evaluated at baseline and every six months post ASCT for adverse events and clinical outcome. Follow-up period was 11-132 months (median 66). Progression-free survival was calculated using the Kaplan- Meier method. At 3 and 6 years of follow-up 70.8% and 29.2% of patients respectively were free of progression. Patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis course, disease duration <5 years and age <35 years had a more favourable outcome. There was no death within 100 days after ASCT. We conclude that ASCT represents a viable and effective treatment option for aggressive multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Charles University in Prague, 1st Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krasulová
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trneny
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kozák
authors.forename: Blanka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vacková
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pohlreich
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kemlink
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kobylka
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kovárová
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lhotáková
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Havrdová
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D002330:Carmustine; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003561:Cytarabine; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005047:Etoposide; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D005047:Etoposide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008558:Melphalan; D002330:Carmustine