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Etretinate therapy for refractory sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease
D C Marcellus1, V L Altomonte, E R Farmer
1Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Blood
|December 24, 1998
Summary
Etretinate shows promise for treating refractory sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after bone marrow transplantation. Many patients experienced significant skin and functional improvements, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Dermatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a frequent complication post-allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT).
- Sclerodermatous chronic GVHD often resists conventional therapies.
- Previous reports suggest retinoids may benefit scleroderma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of etretinate in patients with refractory sclerodermatous chronic GVHD.
- To assess clinical response after three months of etretinate therapy.
Main Methods:
- A case series of 32 patients with refractory sclerodermatous chronic GVHD was analyzed.
- Patients received etretinate, a synthetic retinoid.
- Clinical response was assessed after a 3-month treatment period.
Main Results:
- Twenty out of 27 evaluable patients showed improvement, including skin softening, lesion flattening, and enhanced range of motion.
- Four patients had no response, and three experienced disease progression.
- Etretinate was generally well-tolerated, though six patients discontinued due to skin breakdown.
Conclusions:
- Etretinate demonstrates encouraging results for sclerodermatous chronic GVHD.
- Further clinical trials are warranted to confirm its therapeutic role in this challenging condition.
