Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a generalised autoimmune disease, causing morbidity and a reduced life expectancy, especially in patients with rapidly progressive diffuse cutaneous SSc. As no proven treatment exists, autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is employed as a new therapeutic strategy in patients with a poor prognosis. This study reports the effects on survival, skin and major organ function of HSCT in patients with severe diffuse cutaneous SSc.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 26 patients were evaluated. Peripheral blood stem cells were collected using cyclophosphamide (4 g/m2) and rHu G-CSF (5 to 10 microg/kg/day) and were reinfused after positive CD34+ selection. For conditioning, cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg was used.
RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 5.3 (1-7.5) years, 81% (n = 21/26) of the patients demonstrated a clinically beneficial response. The Kaplan-Meier estimated survival at 5 years was 96.2% (95% CI 89-100%) and at 7 years 84.8% (95% CI 70.2-100%) and event-free survival, defined as survival without mortality, relapse or progression of SSc, resulting in major organ dysfunction was 64.3% (95% CI 47.9-86%) at 5 years and 57.1% (95% CI 39.3-83%) at 7 years.
CONCLUSION: This study confirms that autologous HSCT in selected patients with severe diffuse cutaneous SSc results in sustained improvement of skin thickening and stabilisation of organ function up to 7 years after transplantation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 98-104 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases |
Volume | 67 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2008 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Cyclophosphamide
- Disease-Free Survival
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
- Humans
- Linear Models
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Morbidity
- Myeloablative Agonists
- Recombinant Proteins
- Scleroderma, Systemic
- Survival Rate
- Transplantation Conditioning
- Transplantation, Autologous
- Clinical Trial, Phase I
- Clinical Trial, Phase II
- Journal Article
- Multicenter Study
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't