Background:
The mortality of patients with steroid resistant acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is high due to multiple organ failure and infection. Recently, the use of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), which is believed to have a low risk of infection, has been applied for the treatment of GVHD.
Methods:
Of 23 patients who were steroid resistant acute GVHD that was resistant even to high dose steroid treatment as second-line treatment, 10 patients received ECP (ECP group) and 13 patients received a third-line treatment other than ECP (non-ECP group). The outcome including the response rate and survival for the ECP group and non-ECP group was analyzed.
Results:
The response rate of the ECP group including complete remission and partial remission, was 30%. The survival rate was 30% for the ECP group and 0% for the non-ECP group. The estimated mean survival time was 229.3±89.3 days for the ECP group and 41.8±14.6 days for the non-ECP group (P=0.028).
Conclusion:
ECP can be considered as a treatment option for the steroid resistant acute GVHD that is refractory to high dose steroid treatment.

Keywords: Steroid, Graft-versus-host disease, Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, Extracorporeal photopheresis