Treatment of graft-versus-host disease by extracorporeal photochemotherapy: a pilot study

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major complication after bone marrow transplantation, which may be refractory to immunosuppressive drugs. As preliminary case reports suggested that extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) using a Therakos device might be beneficial, we conducted a pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of a new ECP method that does not require administration of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) to the patient.

ECP was performed three times a week for 3 weeks and then tapered according to the patient's course. Soluble 8-MOP was added ex vivo to an enriched mononuclear cell suspension obtained by a cell separator. This cellular suspension was then ultraviolet A irradiated and reinfused into the patient. Evaluation was performed using specific objective tests depending on clinical conditions.

The two patients in the study with acute GVHD and severe liver dysfunction resistant to steroid pulse showed no improvement with ECP treatment. The five patients with chronic GVHD (c-GVHD) had the following clinical features: three patients had myositis and two patients had severe cutaneous c-GVHD, including one patient with sclerodermoid lesions, one with bronchiolitis obliterans, one with bronchitis, and one with liver involvement. Immunosuppressive drugs were either prohibited or ineffective. The number of procedures for each patient ranged from 13 to 30. Cytapheresis required the use of a double-lumen catheter (4/5) or an arteriovenous fistula (1/5). No side effects were related to 8-MOP or ultraviolet A irradiation. Four of five patients improved after ECP; one patient with bronchiolitis obliterans, a fibrotic condition, remained stable.

ECP treatment may be helpful for the treatment of severe c-GVHD and the avoidance of increased immunosuppression.