title: Successful use of miniphotopheresis for the treatment of graft-versus-host disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an important cell-based therapy for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD); however, the blood volume required per treatment to achieve a clinical response is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed a mini-ECP technique (mini-ECP) using only 100 to 200 mL of whole blood for patients with contraindications for apheresis or low body weight. Sixteen patients (n=13 acute, n=3 chronic GVHD) with a median body weight of 19 kg (range, 7-48 kg) received 460 mini-ECP treatments with a median duration of 115 days (range, 49-973 days).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mini-ECP was well tolerated, and acute GVHD resolved completely in nine of 13 patients and partially in two patients but not in two patients. Cutaneous chronic GVHD exhibited a mixed response (one complete, one partial, and one no response).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate mini-ECP as a novel and less invasive therapy for patients with GVHD and contraindications for apheresis.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hackstein
authors.forename: Jose Jaime Verdu
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Amoros
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bein
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Woessmann
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001781:Blood Component Removal; D001835:Body Weight; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000075202:Contraindications; D004351:Drug Resistance; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007596:Joints / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009055:Mouth / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D017893:Photopheresis / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents