Extracorporeal photopheresis for paediatric patients experiencing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)

Transfus Apher Sci. 2014 Jun;50(3):340-8. doi: 10.1016/j.transci.2014.04.004. Epub 2014 Apr 13.

Abstract

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is broadly used in adults with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), rejection of solid organ transplants, and a variety of autoimmune, cell-mediated diseases. The predominant use of ECP in children and adolescents is for treating GVHD. Children pose specific challenges to ECP, due to their unique physiology and to patient's size. Herein, we will focus on current clinical trials with ECP in children with GVHD, with an emphasis on technical and clinical issues that are peculiar to the paediatric setting.

Keywords: Childhood leukemia; Graft-versus-host disease; Photopheresis; Solid organ transplantation.; Stem cell transplantation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Graft Rejection / immunology
  • Graft Rejection / pathology
  • Graft Rejection / therapy*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / pathology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / immunology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / pathology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / therapy
  • Male
  • Organ Transplantation*
  • Photopheresis / methods*