Background Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) represents an important complication following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. In recent years, narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB, 311-313 nm) has been found to be a beneficial adjuvant treatment in patients refractory to first-line immunosuppressive drugs. Objectives The aim of this study is to analyse retrospectively the clinical outcome of 10 GVHD paediatric patients treated with NB-UVB therapy. Patients and methods Ten paediatric patients (six girls and four boys: median age 12.5 years, range 4-20) with cutaneous GVHD were enrolled in the study: five patients with chronic GVHD and five patients with an overlap syndrome GVHD. All patients had already been shown to be resistant to first-choice immunosuppressive protocols, and were treated with NB-UVB phototherapy until a clinical remission of skin lesions occurred. Results A complete response (absence of lesions) was achieved in 80% of the cases (eight patients) after a median number of 29 treatments, corresponding to a median of 7.5 weeks (52 days) of treatment (range 3-13 weeks), with an average cumulative dose of 28.71 J cm(-2) (range 1.02-70.38 J cm(-2)). Only two patients reported a partial remission (< 18% of body surface area involved). During the follow-up period, a complete remission after 1 year was observed in 75% of patients and after 2 years in 71% of the evaluable patients. Conclusions This study provides evidence that NB-UVB phototherapy represents a valid second-line treatment in paediatric patients affected by GVHD and refractory to immunosuppressive first-line treatment.
Narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy in the treatment of cutaneous graft-versus-host disease in oncohaematological paediatric patients
LOCATELLI, FRANCO;
2009-01-01
Abstract
Background Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) represents an important complication following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. In recent years, narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB, 311-313 nm) has been found to be a beneficial adjuvant treatment in patients refractory to first-line immunosuppressive drugs. Objectives The aim of this study is to analyse retrospectively the clinical outcome of 10 GVHD paediatric patients treated with NB-UVB therapy. Patients and methods Ten paediatric patients (six girls and four boys: median age 12.5 years, range 4-20) with cutaneous GVHD were enrolled in the study: five patients with chronic GVHD and five patients with an overlap syndrome GVHD. All patients had already been shown to be resistant to first-choice immunosuppressive protocols, and were treated with NB-UVB phototherapy until a clinical remission of skin lesions occurred. Results A complete response (absence of lesions) was achieved in 80% of the cases (eight patients) after a median number of 29 treatments, corresponding to a median of 7.5 weeks (52 days) of treatment (range 3-13 weeks), with an average cumulative dose of 28.71 J cm(-2) (range 1.02-70.38 J cm(-2)). Only two patients reported a partial remission (< 18% of body surface area involved). During the follow-up period, a complete remission after 1 year was observed in 75% of patients and after 2 years in 71% of the evaluable patients. Conclusions This study provides evidence that NB-UVB phototherapy represents a valid second-line treatment in paediatric patients affected by GVHD and refractory to immunosuppressive first-line treatment.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
