title: [Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in systemic autoimmune diseases. State of the art].
abstract: The use of stem cell transplantation for severe autoimmune diseases refractory to conventional therapy arose from two discoveries: the excellent results of animal experiments, and serendipitous observations in human coincidental diseases. Experimental data and early phase I-II trials in highly selected patients suggest that highdose chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can arrest progression of severe autoimmune diseases with an acceptable risk/benefit ratio. The present article reviews the phase II-III prospective, multicenter, randomized trials that have been performed in distinct autoimmunediseases. In addition, allogeneic stem cell transplantation for autoimmune diseases is being cautiously explored in current protocols.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Hematología y Hemoterapia. Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío. Sevilla. España.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García López
authors.forename: Ildefonso
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Espigado Tocino
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cid Boza