Extracorporeal photopheresis performed on the CELLEX® compared with the UVAR‐XTS® instrument is more efficient and better tolerated in children with steroid‐refractory graft‐versus‐host disease

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an effective therapy in children with refractory graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD). The two most frequently used instruments are UVAR‐XTS® and CELLEX®. We performed a retrospective chart review of ten patients who underwent ECP with both UVAR‐XTS® and CELLEX® instruments for steroid‐refractory acute or chronic GVHD to compare instrument run times, percentages of cells treated, and complication rates. We found that compared to the UVAR‐XTS® instrument, use of the CELLEX® instrument resulted in shorter run times, increased percentage of mononuclear cells treated, reduced incidence of line occlusions requiring TPA treatment, and decreased incidence of patient‐related complications. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1485–1488. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.