Photochemotherapy for GvHD

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy for the treatment of steroid-resistant chronic GVHD.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major limitation of successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) has been tested extensively in small cohorts of patients with chronic GVHD. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated 71 patients with severe chronic GVHD treated with ECP. Response rate was 61% (n = 43), and 14 patients...

Treatment of chronic cutaneous graft versus host disease (GVHD) with photochemotherapy with Psoralen (PUVA): A report of five cases

Chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) remains the most common late complication of allogenic stem cell transplantation and the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. To control this condition, immunosuppressive drugs are usually administered at a high dose and for a long time, which may result in several side effects. 5 patients with clinically and histopathologica...

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy for generalized deep morphea.

Ten years ago, a 49-year-old white patient presented with a reticulated erythema and induration of her abdominal skin. Over the next 5 years, the erythema and induration progressed to include the skin over her lower extremities, chest, back, and upper extremities. With the onset of new lesions, she frequently experienced pruritus and tenderness at the areas of involvement. She also noted decrea...

Repertoire isn't everything for GVHD.

Molecular aspects of extracorporeal photochemotherapy.

8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), activated upon exposure to long-wavelength ultraviolet radiation, is used therapeutically to treat the diseased blood cells of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma patients. The factors responsible for the efficacy of this therapy are reviewed. Primary among these are the plasma level of 8-MOP at the time of irradiation and the effective dose of UVA. 8-MOP plasma levels determin...