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Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Autoimmune Diseases

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for severe rheumatoid arthritis

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 32, pages S53–S56 (2003)Cite this article

Summary:

The substantial morbidity and mortality associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), while not widely appreciated, provide adequate justification for consideration of high-dose immunoablative therapy followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. While some patients with RA follow a benign course, selected subsets of patients have been identified with 5-year survival rates of 40–70%. A number of factors that can be easily determined serve as useful prognostic indicators for poor outcome. These include the presence of many involved joints (total joint count), the degree of functional disability as measured by the health assessment questionnaire and the presence of rheumatoid factor. This article summarises the present status of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for rheumatoid arthritis and proposes future directions for research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia

    J J Moore

  2. Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK

    J Snowden

  3. National Cancer Institute, Besthesda, MD, USA

    S Pavletic

  4. Northwestern University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    W Barr & R Burt

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  1. J J Moore
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  2. J Snowden
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  3. S Pavletic
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  4. W Barr
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  5. R Burt
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Moore, J., Snowden, J., Pavletic, S. et al. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for severe rheumatoid arthritis. Bone Marrow Transplant 32 (Suppl 1), S53–S56 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1703944

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