title: Update on the mechanism of action and on clinical efficacy of extracorporeal photopheresis in the treatment of acute and chronic graft versus host disease in children.
abstract: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has been used for treatment of steroid-refractory graft versus host disease (GVHD) with encouraging results. Although its exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, photoapheresed cells seem to induce a selective immune response directed against alloreactive T cell populations without causing generalized immunosuppression. Current pediatric experience with ECP for GVHD is available in the form of a few retrospective small studies concerning children with steroid refractory GVHD. Reviewing these data we conclude that ECP is a safe procedure, well tolerated even in low-weight pediatric patients, which warrants further evaluation in well-designed, prospective, controlled studies.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Transplant Unit, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. evgoussetis@gmail.com
authors.forename: Evgenios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goussetis
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tsirigotis
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D017893:Photopheresis / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology