title: Extracorporeal photopheresis in 62 patients with acute and chronic GVHD: results of treatment with the COBE Spectra System.
abstract: In this retrospective analysis, 30 patients with acute GVHD (aGVHD) and 32 patients with chronic GVHD (cGVHD) treated with extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) performed by the COBE Spectra System were evaluated. After 3 months of ECP treatment, a CR and PR were observed in 9 (30%) and 6 (20%) patients with aGVHD and in 2 (6%) and 12 (38%) patients with cGVHD. In 16 (53%) patients with aGVHD and 9 (28%) with cGVHD ECP treatment was already stopped after 3 months. One (3%) patient with aGVHD and 7 (22%) patients with cGVHD received new additional immunosuppressive therapy started during the first 3 months of ECP treatment and were classified as 'nonresponder' with regard to ECP. Of these patients a PR was achieved in one patient with aGVHD and in three patients with cGVHD. Steroids could be tapered by 50 in 83% of patients with aGVHD and in 29% of patients with cGVHD after 3 months of ECP treatment. Patients with aGVHD achieving a CR or PR showed a significant improved OS after allo-SCT (P=0.019). ECP is associated with significant response rates and successful reduction of steroids in patients with GVHD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Internal Oncology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. anke.hautmann@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hautmann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edinger
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schirmer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ammer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holler
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Landfried
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hautmann
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahrens
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ugocsai
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andreesen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holler
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017893:Photopheresis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult