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Treatment of refractory sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease with intravenous lidocaine infusions

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 49, pages 315–316 (2014)Cite this article

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Sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD) is a distinctive phenotype of GVHD with a 20% incidence within 3 years of initial systemic treatment of cGVHD.1 Sclerotic cGVHD resembles autoimmune systemic sclerosis (SSc) and does not respond adequately to immunosuppressive therapy (IST). Patients often experience muscle cramps and require prolonged therapy complicated by recurrent infections.

Intravenous (IV) lidocaine has been used successfully for treatment of refractory SSc, as documented by improved cutaneous blood flow.2 Additionally, lidocaine affects collagen synthesis by reducing prolyl hydroxylase activity, and exerts anti-inflammatory effects through interference with key functions of neutrophils and macrophages.3

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    C Phipps, M T Lupo-Stanghellini & M E D Flowers

  2. Department of Haematology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    C Phipps

  3. Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy

    M T Lupo-Stanghellini

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  1. C Phipps
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  2. M T Lupo-Stanghellini
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  3. M E D Flowers
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Correspondence to C Phipps.

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Phipps, C., Lupo-Stanghellini, M. & Flowers, M. Treatment of refractory sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease with intravenous lidocaine infusions. Bone Marrow Transplant 49, 315–316 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2013.159

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