Comparison of treatment response measures in cutaneous sclerosis after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

Cutaneous sclerosis, a highly morbid subtype of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), demonstrates limited treatment response under current National Institutes of Health (NIH) response measures. We explored novel sclerosis-specific response measures using Chronic GVHD Consortium data. A training cohort included patients with cutaneous sclerosis from a randomized trial of imatinib vs rituximab and a consortium observational study. The validation cohort was a different consortium observational study. Clinician-reported measures (baseline and baseline to 6-month change) were examined for association with 6-month clinician-reported response. Patient-reported measures (baseline and baseline to 6-month change) were studied for association with 6-month patient-reported response. A total of 347 patients were included (training 183 and validation 164). Although multiple skin and joint measures were associated with clinician-reported response on univariate analysis, patient range of motion (PROM) total score, PROM total score change, and NIH 0 to 3 skin change were retained in the final multivariate model (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC], 0.83 training and 0.75 validation). Similarly, many patient-reported measures were associated, but final multivariate analysis retained the human activity profile adjusted activity score (AAS), 36 item short form health survey (SF36) vitality change, Lee symptom scale (LSS) skin, and LSS skin change in the model (AUC, 0.86 training and 0.75 validation). We identified which sclerosis measures have the greatest association with 6-month clinician- and patient-reported treatment responses, a previously unstudied area. However, given the observed performance in the validation cohorts, we conclude that further work is needed. Novel response measures may be needed to optimally assess treatment response in cutaneous sclerosis.