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A 24‐year experience of autologous stem cell transplantation for light chain amyloidosis patients in the United Kingdom
Author(s) -
Sharpley Faye A.,
Petrie Aviva,
Mahmood Shameem,
Sachchithanantham Sajitha,
Lachmann Helen J.,
Gillmore Julian D.,
Whelan Carol J.,
Fontana Marianna,
Martinez-Naharro Ana,
Quarta Cristina,
Hawkins Philip N.,
Wechalekar Ashutosh D.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/bjh.16143
Subject(s) - medicine , autologous stem cell transplantation , hazard ratio , al amyloidosis , confidence interval , surgery , amyloidosis , transplantation , gastroenterology , immunoglobulin light chain , immunology , antibody
Summary Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is considered to be the best method to achieve deep haematological/organ responses and improve survival in selected patients with AL amyloidosis. This field has been led by US centres and is less utilised in Europe. The introduction of effective chemotherapy agents for AL prompted us to re‐evaluate UK outcomes of ASCT in affected patients. A total of 264 AL amyloidosis patients treated with an ASCT between 1994 and 2018 were identified. Patient baseline characteristics, transplant‐related mortality (TRM) and overall survival (OS) were analysed. The median OS post‐ASCT was 87 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 77–106 months]. The median time from ASCT to next treatment was 48 months (95% CI: 29–55 months). A haematological response was achieved in 94·8% of patients and was a strong predictor of time to next treatment [ P < 0·0001, hazard ratio (HR) = 1·75, 95% CI = 1·35–2·28] and OS ( P = 0·007, HR = 1·91, 95% CI = 1·19–3·07). Organ response was: cardiac ( n = 28, 60·9%), renal ( n = 101, 76%) and liver ( n = 7, 13·5%). Overall TRM was 8·7%, with a significant reduction over time (1994–2000: 18·8%; 2001–2006: 13·6%; 2007–2012: 6·2%; 2013–2018: 1·1%). In conclusion, ASCT is significantly safer and remains a highly effective treatment with excellent long‐term survival; it should be more widely considered as a treatment option for systemic AL amyloidosis.