title: Prophylaxis and treatment of GVHD after allogeneic haematopoietic SCT: a survey of centre strategies by the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.
abstract: Recommendations on indications for allogeneic haematopoietic SCT have been presented, but transplantation techniques remain poorly standardized. Pre-transplant risk factors are well defined, and reported outcomes vary markedly among patients with similar risk characteristics. It would be of importance to know the impact of differences in treatment procedures. To study properly the different components of allogeneic transplantation, standardization of at least some central procedures would be needed. As the first step, the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) performed a survey among all its 372 member centres performing allogeneic transplantations about their strategies in preventing and treating GVHD. Responses from 79 centres (21% return) from 25 countries (60% return) were received. Although some trends toward more uniform policies compared with a survey carried out 15 years earlier were observed, the present survey still showed marked variability in the GVHD prophylaxis and treatment strategies. On the basis of these findings, EBMT is developing a consensus process aiming at a standardized strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Haematology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. tapani.ruutu@hus.fi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ruutu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Biezen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hertenstein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Henseler
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garderet
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Passweg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohty
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sureda
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Niederwieser
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gratwohl
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: de Witte
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents