Intensive extracorporeal photochemotherapy in pediatric patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD)

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) is an alternative treatment approach in the management of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). However, few reports have investigated the optimal treatment schedule of ECP. We treated seven pediatric patients with steroid-resistant or -dependent cGVHD with ECP. Using the Therakos UVAR XTS system, ECP was begun three (three patients) or five (four patients) times a week initially. Complete and partial responses were obtained in three patients. Three of seven patients died of GVHD-related complications. In this group initial intensive ECP did not improve the rate of response. However, this schedule appeared well tolerated.