Extracorporeal photopheresis in pediatric patients: Practical and technical considerations

Abstract

In adults, extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is widely utilized for a variety of indications, most commonly cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), solid organ transplant rejection, and other autoimmune and T-cell-mediated disorders. In pediatric patients, the majority of case series and reports have focused on its use in the management of acute and chronic GVHD. Currently utilized ECP technologies were designed for adult patients and there are several challenges in adapting these technologies for use in children. In our review, we focus on practical considerations and procedural modifications for ECP use in pediatric patients, with special attention to patient safety.

Keywords: extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP); graft-versus-host disease (GVHD); pediatrics; therapeutic apheresis.