Extracorporeal photopheresis in 62 patients with acute and chronic GVHD: results of treatment with the COBE Spectra System.

In this retrospective analysis, 30 patients with acute GVHD (aGVHD) and 32 patients with chronic GVHD (cGVHD) treated with extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) performed by the COBE Spectra System were evaluated. After 3 months of ECP treatment, a CR and PR were observed in 9 (30%) and 6 (20%) patients with aGVHD and in 2 (6%) and 12 (38%) patients with cGVHD. In 16 (53%) patients with aGVHD and 9 (28%) with cGVHD ECP treatment was already stopped after 3 months. One (3%) patient with aGVHD and 7 (22%) patients with cGVHD received new additional immunosuppressive therapy started during the first 3 months of ECP treatment and were classified as 'nonresponder' with regard to ECP. Of these patients a PR was achieved in one patient with aGVHD and in three patients with cGVHD. Steroids could be tapered by 50 in 83% of patients with aGVHD and in 29% of patients with cGVHD after 3 months of ECP treatment. Patients with aGVHD achieving a CR or PR showed a significant improved OS after allo-SCT (P=0.019). ECP is associated with significant response rates and successful reduction of steroids in patients with GVHD.