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Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Extracorporeal photopheresis in 62 patients with acute and chronic GVHD: Results of treatment with the COBE Spectra System

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 48, pages 439–445 (2013)Cite this article

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology and Internal Oncology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    A H Hautmann, D Wolff, J Hahn, M Edinger, N Schirmer, J Ammer, B Holler, K Landfried, R Andreesen & E Holler

  2. Department of Radiotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    M G Hautmann

  3. Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    N Ahrens & P Ugocsai

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  1. A H Hautmann
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Correspondence to A H Hautmann.

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Competing interests

Daniel Wolff participated in two clinical trials sponsored by Therakos. The other authors declared no conflict of interest.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on Bone Marrow Transplantation website

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Hautmann, A., Wolff, D., Hahn, J. et al. Extracorporeal photopheresis in 62 patients with acute and chronic GVHD: Results of treatment with the COBE Spectra System. Bone Marrow Transplant 48, 439–445 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2012.156

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