Extracorporeal photopheresis in the treatment of chronic graft-versus-host-disease

Introduction. Chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a frequently occurring complication after transplantation of allogeneic hematopoietic cells associated with a decrease in the quality of life and long-term administration of immunosuppressive drugs. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is a second line of therapy after treatment failure with glucocorticoids.

Aim — to evaluate the effects of ECP treatment in patients with glucocorticosteroids (GCS)-refractory, GCS-dependent or GCS -intolerant chronic GVHD.

Materials and methods. 24 patients with GCS-refractory, GCS-dependent or GCS-intolerant chronic GVHD were included in the therapy with ECP. Nine patients had moderate chronic GVHD, and 15 had a severe chronic GVHD. Skin and mucous membranes were the most frequently targeted organs, 21 and 20 of 24 patients respectively, liver damage was detected in 8 patients. The maximum duration of treatment was 33 months (median — 8.5 months). The number of procedures of ECP ranged from 6 to 48 (median — 22).

Results. A response was determined in 23 patients with one patient being excluded from the assessment due to a relapse of acute leukemia. 16 (69.5 %) patients achieved an overall response to ECP treatment. Three patients had complete response and full reduction of immunosuppressive therapy. When assessing organ-specific response, the most notable improvement was observed in the mucous membranes of 17 patients (89.4 %), skin — 17 (85 %), and liver — 7 (75 %). Along with achieving a general overall response, 78.2 % of patients partly reduced or completely canceled immunosuppressive therapy.

Conclusion. ECP is an effective and promising second line treatment method for chronic GVHD in patients with GCS-refractory, GCS-dependent or GCS-intolerant forms.

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