Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2018 Apr 18. Epub 2018 Apr 18.

Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Electronic address:

We carried out the first matched retrospective cohort study aimed at studying the safety and efficacy of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Medical records of 1325 consecutive adult patients who underwent HCT between 2005 and 2015 were reviewed. Seventy-four patients (median age, 51 years) with a diagnosis of BOS were included in the study. Read More

Transplantation 2018 Apr 17. Epub 2018 Apr 17.

Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee-11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.

Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2018 Apr 11;14(4):297-306. Epub 2018 Apr 11.

b Primary Immunodeficiency Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine , Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK.

Introduction: Primary immunodeficiencies (PID) are genetic immune disorders causing increased predisposition to infections and autoimmunity. The only curative procedure is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), results from which have improved dramatically since 2000. Complications remain a serious issue, especially in HLA non-identical transplantation. Read More

Rev Med Suisse 2018 Mar;14(600):699-702

Service de dermatologie et vénéréologie, HUG, 1211 Genève 14.

During the treatment of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), white blood cells are collected by apheresis and exposed to ultraviolet A after incubation with 8-methoxypsoralen. Although ECP was first developed for cutaneous T cell lymphoma, it has shown promising efficacy in a number of other serious conditions, like acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease, lung and cardiac transplant rejection and other autoimmune diseases. The ECP has been used for thirty years in some specialized centers but remains unknown to most of the physicians. Read More

J Clin Apher 2018 Mar 25. Epub 2018 Mar 25.

Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Neuro-oncology/Stem Cell Transplant, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.

Stimulated by the scientific progress in deciphering the principal elements contributing to the clinical efficacy of extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP), the American Council on ECP (ACE) was formed, under the auspices of the American Society for Apheresis (ASFA), to develop a field-guiding Consensus Report. ACE is composed of thirty nationally recognized ECP experts, clinically spanning cancer, transplantation, and autoimmunity and scientifically bridging immunology, bioengineering, and hematology. The two-day meeting took place in Manhattan, April 13-14, 2017, and unanimous consensus on nine pivotal points is herein reported. Read More

Curr Oncol Rep 2018 Mar 23;20(4):32. Epub 2018 Mar 23.

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.

Purpose Of Review: Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Globally, the most common subtypes of CTCL are mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome. CTCL can confer significant morbidity and even mortality in advanced disease. Read More

Transplantation 2018 Mar 19. Epub 2018 Mar 19.

Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.

Background: Lung transplantation is a therapeutic option for select patients with end-stage lung disease. However, successful lung transplantation is hampered by chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), in particular bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). Although there is no approved or standard treatment for BOS, which may have several distinct phenotypes, extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has shown promising results in patients who develop BOS refractory to azithromycin treatment. Read More

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2018 Mar 14. Epub 2018 Mar 14.

Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; Oncology Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address:

Given the increasing incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and its rapidly escalating costs due to many lines of drug treatments, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis to assess the comparative effectiveness of various treatment options. Using these results, we then conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis for the frequently utilized agents in steroid-refractory cGVHD. We searched for studies examining tacrolimus, sirolimus, rituximab, ruxolitinib, hydroxychloroquine, imatinib, bortezomib, ibrutinib, extracorporeal photopheresis, pomalidomide, and methotrexate. Read More

Rev Med Interne 2018 Mar 12. Epub 2018 Mar 12.

Service de médecine interne, hôpital Victor-Provo, 11, boulevard Lacordaire, 59170 Roubaix, France.

Background: Scleredema adultorum (Buschke's scleredema) is a cutaneous mucinosis of unknown origin, clinically characterized by a diffuse induration of the skin usually involving the neck, shoulders and back, which limits patients' mobility.

Case Report: We report a case of a 50-year-old woman who presented a chronic sclerodermiform syndrome for 2 years associated with type 1 diabetes. Physical examination revealed an extensive skin induration involving the shoulders, neck and back. Read More

Transfus Apher Sci 2018 Feb 21;57(1):115-117. Epub 2018 Feb 21.

Immunohaematology and Transfusion Service, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy.

Renal rejection clinically represents a major cause of graft dysfunction and sadly the loss of the renal transplant. This is despite the considerable progress in immunosuppressive therapy. It is strongly believed that the complex immunologic network underlying the response against major histocompatibility molecules (MHC) is responsible for rejection, an unresolved issue that is, in part, not inhibited by the current prophylactic and therapeutic strategies. Read More

Lasers Surg Med 2018 Feb 20. Epub 2018 Feb 20.

Department of Pathology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, N-0379, Norway.

Background And Objective: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), an established modality for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and graft-versus-host disease, involves ex vivo treatment of isolated leukocytes of a patient with the photosensitizing drug 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and ultraviolet-A (UV-A) exposure before reinfusion back to the patient. However, 8-MOP binds to both diseased and normal cells and thus kills both types of the cells after UV-A illumination with little selectivity. Clinically, this modality gives only partial response in the majority of treated patients. Read More

Transfusion 2018 Apr 16;58(4):943-950. Epub 2018 Feb 16.

Bone Marrow Transplant Program, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.

Background: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has been approved for the treatment of advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma since 1988. While the precise mechanisms resulting in clinical effects are not fully understood, the photoactivation of mononuclear cells (MNCs) using ultraviolet A (UVA) light and methoxsalen is believed to be the predominant initiating process. The effects of MNC passage through the instrument without photoactivation are unknown. Read More

Transfusion 2018 Apr 15;58(4):1045-1053. Epub 2018 Feb 15.

Division of Hematology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

Background: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has demonstrated efficacy as second-line treatment for steroid-refractory (SR) acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). The aim of our study was to analyze whether the amount of ECP-treated cells in patients with SR, aGVHD has an impact on response at 1 month.

Study Design And Methods: Data on white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, mononuclear cells, and neutrophils, including absolute counts and counts per kilogram of body weight in ECP products from patients with aGVHD, were collected. Read More

Transfusion 2018 Feb;58 Suppl 1:609-613

Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.

Background: Central venous access devices are commonly used in extracorporeal photopheresis, but their performance has not been systematically evaluated. The primary objective of this study was to compare pressures at various flow rates for central venous access devices in an ex vivo simulation of photopheresis.

Study Design And Methods: Diluted, heparinized red blood cells were circulated through central access devices in series with a photopheresis system, and pressures at several flow rates were recorded. Read More

Transfusion 2018 Feb;58 Suppl 1:590-597

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona.

Extracorporeal photopheresis is an immunomodulatory therapy indicated for patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, graft-versus-host disease, and heart or lung allograft rejection. Whole blood from the patient is drawn into the photopheresis instrument where it is separated into its components. Plasma, red blood cells, and the treated buffy coat are subsequently returned to the patient. Read More

Clin Immunol 2018 Jan 27. Epub 2018 Jan 27.

Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, United Kingdom; Great North Childrens' Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) complicates allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and is treated with topical and/or systemic corticosteroids. Systemic corticosteroids and aGVHD damage thymic tissue. We compared thymopoietic effect of topical steroid therapy, corticosteroids and extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) in 102 pediatric allogeneic HSCT patients. Read More

Pediatr Transplant 2018 May 29;22(3):e13145. Epub 2018 Jan 29.

Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

ECP is an established "second-line" treatment for CLAD/BOS. Recently, ECP was used for the first time in an adolescent CF patient as a "second-line" treatment therapy in life-threatening primary graft dysfunction following lung transplantation who deteriorated despite extensive treatment including ECMO and ATG. Within 10 days after initiation of ECP twice weekly, allograft function and clinical status improved significantly and the patient was weaned from mechanical ventilation support. Read More

Hautarzt 2018 Feb;69(2):109-115

Universitätsklinik für Dermatologie, Medizinische Universität Wien, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Wien, Österreich.

Background: Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a complex multiorgan disease, which can occur as a complication following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Involvement of the skin represents the most common appearance of GvHD. The role of the dermatologist is critical for diagnosis and initiation of treatment. Read More

Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program 2017 Dec;2017(1):639-644

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a potentially curative option for many disease states. Despite significant improvements in strategies used to prevent and treat acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (a/cGVHD), they continue to negatively affect outcomes of HSCT significantly. Standard, first-line treatment consists of corticosteroids; beyond this, there is little consistency in therapeutic regimens. Read More

Exp Hematol Oncol 2017 2;6:32. Epub 2017 Dec 2.

Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS/CSIC), Manuel Siurot 41013, Seville, Spain.

Background: Ruxolitinib is a potent inhibitor of JAK1/2 with proven efficacy in myelofibrosis. In recent years, research in graft versus host disease (GVHD) has revealed the role of activation of JAK pathways in alloreactive lymphocytes. Some reports have shown significant responses in refractory GVHD patients. Read More

J Clin Apher 2017 Nov 28. Epub 2017 Nov 28.

Division of Hematology and Oncology and the, The Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03756.

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an established therapy for the treatment of graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) following an allogeneic stem cell transplant. We performed a prospective analysis of patients receiving ECP treatment for GVHD to identify a clinical pathway and resource utilization of this process. The cohort included consecutive allogeneic stem cell recipients with GVHD. Read More

J Dermatolog Treat 2017 Dec 18:1-9. Epub 2017 Dec 18.

b Strategic Therapeutics, LLC , Oro Valley , AZ , USA.

Purpose: To conduct an exploratory cost-effectiveness analysis of systemic treatment options for more advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).

Methods: A cost-effectiveness model compared systemic bexarotene, denileukin diftitox, interferon-α, methotrexate, pralatrexate, romidepsin, vorinostat, and extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) treatment of CTCL. Treatment effectiveness data were extracted from published studies and/or US product labeling. Read More

J Clin Apher 2017 Nov 15. Epub 2017 Nov 15.

Department of Pathology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.

Introduction: Therapeutic apheresis (TA) is used inconsistently in pediatric populations. We seek to define our multidisciplinary institutional practice.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients receiving TA from January 1, 2012 through October 31, 2015. Read More

Transfusion 2018 Jan 13;58(1):217-222. Epub 2017 Nov 13.

Department of Internal Medicine, Marche University, Ancona, Italy.

Background: A recent "best practice" promoted and published by Gruppo Italiano Trapianto Midollo Osseo (GITMO) and Societa' Italiana di Emaferesi and Manipolazione Cellulare (SIDEM) on the use of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) in acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) has been tested for the degree of agreement and application among Italian transplant centers.

Study Design And Methods: Twenty-four Italian centers coordinating a pair number of transplant programs completed the Web-based survey within the fixed deadline, representing approximately 52% of those centers that have a GITMO-accredited allogeneic transplant program that routinely uses ECP in GVHD.

Results: The level of full agreement was more than 85% for most of the answers given by the best practice (14 of 16) to the various issues. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2017 ;996:295-309

Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.

Ultraviolet blood irradiation (UBI) was extensively used in the 1940s and 1950s to treat many diseases including septicemia, pneumonia, tuberculosis, arthritis, asthma and even poliomyelitis. The early studies were carried out by several physicians in USA and published in the American Journal of Surgery. However with the development of antibiotics, UBI use declined and it has now been called "the cure that time forgot". Read More

Acta Derm Venereol 2018 Feb;98(2):206-211

Department of Dermatology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Kiryat Hadassah, POB 12000, Jerusalem, 9112001, Israel.

Chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) is a complication of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The aim of this study was to clinically characterize childhood cutaneous cGVHD. A retrospective study of children treated with HSCT at 2 tertiary medical centres in Israel between 2011 and 2014 was performed. Read More

Biomedicines 2017 10 11;5(4). Epub 2017 Oct 11.

Department of Blood & Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Immunotherapy, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.

Although significant advances have been made in the biologic understanding of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and its treatment options, GVHD remains the single most challenging obstacle to the success of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) due to high risk of disabling morbidity and mortality. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has promising effects in controlling steroid-refractory GVHD, both acute and chronic, and it has been studied extensively. Its putative immunomodulatory mechanisms, while not immunosuppressive, position ECP as an attractive treatment strategy for GVHD patients who are already receiving global immunosuppression. Read More

Asian J Transfus Sci 2017 Jul-Dec;11(2):81-86

Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, BLK Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) is considered as an immune modulating therapy majorly targeting the T cells of the Immune system. ECP induces an anti-inflammatory condition with tolerogenic responses without inducing a global immunosuppression state which is a typical feature of other therapeutic options such as steroids. Clinical indication of ECP has grown over time since its initial applications. Read More

Ann Oncol 2017 Oct;28(10):2517-2525

Department of Dermatology, Stanford University Medical Centre, USA.

Background: Advanced-stage mycosis fungoides (MF)/Sézary syndrome (SS) patients are weighted by an unfavorable prognosis and share an unmet clinical need of effective treatments. International guidelines are available detailing treatment options for the different stages but without recommending treatments in any particular order due to lack of comparative trials. The aims of this second CLIC study were to retrospectively analyze the pattern of care worldwide for advanced-stage MF/SS patients, the distribution of treatments according to geographical areas (USA versus non-USA), and whether the heterogeneity of approaches has potential impact on survival. Read More

J Clin Apher 2017 Sep 22. Epub 2017 Sep 22.

Apheresis Unit, Department of Hemotherapy and Hemostasis, ICMHO, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Introduction: A therapeutic apheresis (TA) database helps to increase knowledge about indications and type of apheresis procedures that are performed in clinical practice. The objective of the present report was to describe the type and number of TA procedures that were performed at our institution in a 10-year period, from 2007 to 2016.

Material And Methods: The TA electronic database was created by transferring patient data from electronic medical records and consultation forms into a Microsoft Access database developed exclusively for this purpose. Read More

Lung 2017 Dec 11;195(6):781-788. Epub 2017 Sep 11.

Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.

Purpose: Rituximab is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that is used to suppress B-cell function in graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). We sought to determine the effects of rituximab treatment on lung function in those patients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) as a manifestation of GVHD.

Methods: Thirteen patients were treated with rituximab with a diagnosis of BOS and a significant reduction in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Read More

Clin Transplant 2017 Oct 29;31(10). Epub 2017 Aug 29.

Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.

J Clin Apher 2017 Aug 22. Epub 2017 Aug 22.

Transfusion Medicine Department, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy.

Background And Objective: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is the most represented cell therapy for treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, graft-versus host disease and organ rejection. We analyzed our experience in ECP using 2 cell separators (Cobe Spectra and Spectra Optia) focusing on leukapheretic product characteristics, UV-A irradiation procedure and entire ECP process.

Materials And Methods: We collected data of patients undergoing ECP between January 2012 and February 2015 in order to evaluate collection procedures performed using Cobe Spectra and Spectra Optia, mononuclear cell product, UV-A photoirradiation procedure by Pit System. Read More

Leuk Lymphoma 2018 Feb 16;59(2):272-273. Epub 2017 Aug 16.

a Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology , Weill Cornell Medicine , New York , NY , USA.

Transfusion 2017 08;57(8):1860-1861

Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.

Transfusion 2017 11 7;57(11):2567-2570. Epub 2017 Aug 7.

Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

Background: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is commonly performed via peripheral venous access catheter. If this is not possible, a tunneled central venous catheter may be considered. However, this access mode may be associated with high complication rates. Read More

Br J Dermatol 2018 Feb 12;178(2):569-570. Epub 2018 Jan 12.

Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, U.K.

Transfus Apher Sci 2017 Aug 10;56(4):515-519. Epub 2017 Jul 10.

Unit of Colorectal Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.

JAAD Case Rep 2017 Jul 20;3(4):358-361. Epub 2017 Jul 20.

Department of Dermatology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

BMC Pulm Med 2017 Jul 18;17(1):102. Epub 2017 Jul 18.

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.

Background: The role of CD4CD25CD127 T-reg cells in solid-organ Transplant (Tx) acceptance has been extensively studied. In previous studies on kidney and liver recipients, peripheral T-reg cell counts were associated to graft survival, while in lung Tx, there is limited evidence for similar findings. This study aims to analyze long term peripheral kinetics of T-reg-cells in a cohort of lung recipients and tests its association to several clinical variables. Read More

Swiss Med Wkly 2017 07 11;147:w14448. Epub 2017 Jul 11.

University of Kansas Medical Center, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Kansas City, USA.

Case Rep Dermatol Med 2017 12;2017:3240287. Epub 2017 Jun 12.

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), previously known as nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy, is a rare complication of exposure to gadolinium-based contrast agents in patients who have significantly decreased renal function. Manifestations include fibrosis of the skin and other tissues. Effective therapies are lacking. Read More

Clin Case Rep 2017 Jul 16;5(7):1184-1185. Epub 2017 May 16.

Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Renal TransplantationUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFlorida.

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a fibrosing disorder seen in patients with renal dysfunction, commonly precipitated by administration of gadolinium contrast. There is no consistently successful treatment, but oral steroids, topical dovonex, extracorporeal photopheresis, and plasmapheresis have been tried [http://www.icnfdr. Read More

Cent Eur J Immunol 2017 8;42(1):1-9. Epub 2017 May 8.

University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an important second-line therapy for graft-versus-host disease. A central therapeutic mechanism is the induction of immune tolerance through apoptosis in patient's leukocytes, caused by ex vivo incubation with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and subsequent UVA irradiation. We hypothesized that different 8-MOP incubation times and an additional 8-MOP removal step could influence the apoptosis kinetics of leukocytes in general and in particular could lead to different apoptotic levels in the leukocyte subpopulations. Read More

J Heart Lung Transplant 2017 Sep 29;36(9):921-933. Epub 2017 May 29.

Division of Pulmonology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Background: Long-term success of lung transplantation is limited by the development of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), of which bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is the most common form. This systematic review sought to identify the current evidence base for CLAD-BOS therapies after initial immunosuppressive treatment strategies.

Methods: The MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to May 3, 2016, were searched using keywords relating to CLAD-BOS, study designs, and treatments of interest, including extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), aerosolized cyclosporine, total lymphoid irradiation (TLI), alemtuzumab, and montelukast. Read More

Clin Transplant 2017 Oct 1;31(10). Epub 2017 Aug 1.

Division of Pulmonology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Extracorporeal photophoresis (ECP) is an increasingly used therapy to address chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) following lung transplantation. In 2008, we reported the first single-center experience showing that ECP not only reduces lung function decline in patients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) but results in stabilization of patients with recurrent acute cellular rejection (ACR). In this study, the original cohort was followed up further 5 years. Read More

Curr Pediatr Rev 2017 ;13(2):100-110

Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, MA. United States.

Background: Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a significant complication following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the pediatric population. The most common clinical manifestation of GVHD is in the skin. This article will present a review of key concepts related to pediatric cutaneous GVHD, including pathophysiology, clinical epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment options. Read More

Br J Nurs 2017 Jun;26(12 Suppl):S16-S22

Consultant Haematologist, The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) patients are at high risk of compromised skin integrity, and of developing pressure ulcers, which may bleed and/or become infected. The Rotherham Outpatient Screening Tool (ROST) was adapted from the Waterlow score and the Malnutrition Universial Screening Tool (MUST) to suit patients attending an outpatient unit for photopheresis. A review of the screening tool highlighted patients at a higher risk of developing pressure damage during treatment and therefore the unit was able to reduce this risk by the provision of a pressure-relieving cushion (Repose). Read More

J Clin Apher 2017 Dec 13;32(6):462-473. Epub 2017 Jun 13.

Photopheresis Unit, Rotherham NHS Trust, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) is a cellular immunotherapy frequently used for steroid-refractory graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Chronic GVHD (cGVHD), response to ECP is associated with survival benefit. The UVAR-XTS system and the more recently developed CELLEX device (both Therakos ) are the mainstay for ECP-delivery in the UK and US. Read More

Leuk Lymphoma 2018 Feb 7;59(2):372-380. Epub 2017 Jun 7.

f Blood Bank Center , Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud , Pierre Benite , France.

We performed a prospective multicenter phase 2 study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of prophylactic Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) in adult patients with hematological malignancies early after RIC allo-HSCT on day 21 twice per week during the first two weeks and then once per week for the next four weeks for a total of eight ECP courses. A total of 20 patients were included; 10 were males, median age was 60 years. All patients engrafted, 17 (85%) received the total eight ECP courses. Read More