title: Treatment of Adult T Cell Leukaemia by Extracorporeal Photochemotherapy.
abstract: Four patients with chronic or smouldering type adult T cell leukaemia (ATL) were treated by extracorporeal photochemotherapy (photopheresis). From 4 to 8 months after starting photo-pheresis, skin lesions with ATL cell infiltration began to disappear. Cell surface markers in three patients showed improvement. In one patient, a serial decrease of soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels (950 U/ml to 620) in the serum was observed after 4 months. This pilot study suggests that photopheresis may be successfully applied in ATL. It is still necessary to continue follow-up observations in these patients and to treat a larger number of cases, before definite conclusions can be drawn in the future.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Internal Medicine, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Futami
authors.affiliation: a Department of Internal Medicine, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiyokawa
authors.affiliation: b Department of Blood Transfusion Service, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Medical Technology, College of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.lastname: Toshinoriishii
authors.affiliation: d Department of Dermatology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oishi
authors.affiliation: d Department of Dermatology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jono
authors.affiliation: d Department of Dermatology, Kumamoto University Medical School, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arao
authors.affiliation: a Department of Internal Medicine, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takatsuki
keywords: ATL; Adult T cell leukaemia; extracorporeal; leukaemia; photochemotherapy