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Treatment of refractory autoimmune diseases with autologous stem cell transplantation: focus on juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 35, pages S27–S29 (2005)Cite this article

Summary:

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) can be performed in a variety of refractory autoimmune diseases. A retrospective multicenter analysis is presented to evaluate safety and efficacy of ASCT for refractory juvenile idiopathic arthritis. In all, 18 of the 34 patients (53%) with a follow-up of 12 to 60 months achieved a drug-free complete remission. There were three cases (9%) of transplant-related mortality and two cases of disease-related mortality (6%). Infectious complications were seen frequently. We propose adjustments in future protocols to reduce this mortality in this high-risk patient group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Section Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    N M Wulffraat & B Vastert

  2. Department of Rheumatology, Felix Platter Spital, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    A Tyndall

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  1. N M Wulffraat
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  2. B Vastert
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  3. A Tyndall
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Correspondence to N M Wulffraat.

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Wulffraat, N., Vastert, B. & Tyndall, A. Treatment of refractory autoimmune diseases with autologous stem cell transplantation: focus on juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Bone Marrow Transplant 35 (Suppl 1), S27–S29 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1704840

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