Open AccessShould we use extracorporeal photopheresis more often? Evidence from graft-versus-host disease patients monitored with Treg as a biomarker
Author(s) -
Sérgio Lopes,
Susana Roncón,
Ana Catarina Pinho,
Filipa Bordalo,
Luís Antunes,
Fernando Campilho,
António Campos,
Altamiro CostaPereira
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
future science oa
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.825
H-Index - 23
ISSN - 2056-5623
DOI - 10.2144/fsoa-2020-0107
Subject(s) - extracorporeal photopheresis , medicine , immunosuppression , photopheresis , graft versus host disease , biomarker , adverse effect , immunology , immunotherapy , hematopoietic stem cell transplantation , immune system , disease , biology , biochemistry
Background: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) is a major complication after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an immunotherapy treatment for cGvHD, although suitable response biomarkers are lacking. Materials & methods: We analyzed data from six cGvHD patients undergoing ECP at a reference center from 826 to 2866 days. Circulating Tregs were enumerated, patient’s clinical evolution, immunosuppression dose and adverse events (AEs) registered. Results: We observed an increase in Tregs, a decrease in immunosuppression dosage and symptoms improvement. Mild AEs occurred at a very low rate. Conclusion: In these patients, the improvement of cGvHD, with low AEs, confirms a place for ECP as treatment. Improvements were accompanied by an increase in circulating Tregs, suggesting their role as a biomarker.