Extracorporeal photopheresis in acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease

Abstract

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a serious complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation causing significant morbidity and mortality. Corticosteroids are the established first-line treatment of GvHD. Patients not responding to corticosteroids have a dismal prognosis. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has objective activity in the treatment of both acute and chronic corticosteroid-refractory GvHD patients, has an excellent safety profile and is internationally well-established. ECP has been recommended by a significant number of renowned scientific organizations as an efficient treatment option for patients with GvHD. ECP has a proven corticosteroid-sparing effect and favourably impacts on survival and quality of life of responding patients.

Keywords: Extracorporeal photopheresis; Graft-versus-host disease.