Autologous stem cell transplantation: a possible treatment for refractory juvenile chronic arthritis?

Abstract

Objective: In adults, autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has been described recently as a possible treatment for severe autoimmune disease refractory to conventional treatment. We report here the four first children with severe forms of juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) treated with ASCT.

Methods: We studied three children with systemic JCA and one child with polyarticular JCA. Unprimed bone marrow was harvested 1 month prior to ASCT. T-cell depletion of the graft was performed with CD2 and CD3 antibodies. We used a preparative regimen of antithymocyte globulin (ATG; 20 mg/kg), cyclophosphamide (Cy; 200 mg/kg) and low-dose total body irradiation (TBI; 4 Gy). Methotrexate (MTX) and cyclosporin A (CsA) were stopped before ASCT; prednisone was tapered after 2 months.

Results: After ASCT, our patients showed an anti-inflammatory-drug-free follow-up of 6-18 months with a marked decrease in joint swelling, pain and morning stiffness. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and haemoglobin (Hb) returned to near-normal values within 6 weeks. Despite T-cell depletion, there was a very rapid immune reconstitution. Two patients developed a limited varicella zoster virus (VZV) eruption which was treated by acyclovir.