Chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation: long-term results of a randomized study

Blood. 2002 Nov 1;100(9):3128-34. doi: 10.1182/blood.V100.9.3128.

Abstract

The use of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) is rapidly growing in the allogeneic transplantation setting as an alternative to bone marrow (BM). We previously reported a higher incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) associated with allogeneic PBSC transplantation in a randomized trial. In this follow-up report, we analyzed the evolution of cGVHD in the patients (n = 101) enrolled on this study. At a median follow-up of 45 months (range, 31-57 months), we found that the 3-year cumulative incidence of cGVHD was 65% (95% confidence interval [CI] 51%-78%) in the PBSC group and 36% (95% CI 23%-49%) in the BM group (P =.004). We also found that extensive cGVHD was more frequent in the PBSC group (44% [95% CI 30%-58%] vs 17% [95% CI 7%-27%]; P =.004). The prevalence of cGVHD was always higher in the PBSC arm. Ocular involvement was more frequent in PBSC recipients (P =.02). Cutaneous and liver involvement was similar among BM and PBSC recipients. Chronic GVHD required multiple courses of immunosuppressive therapy in addition to cyclosporine and corticosteroids during longer periods (P =.03). Altogether, this translated into longer periods of hospitalization after transplantation in the PBSC group (P =.04). Finally, we also confirm that cGVHD after PBSC transplantation is associated with an antileukemic effect that is at least as potent as after BM. However, to date, this has not translated into a survival difference, possibly due to the early-stage leukemic status of these patients or to the relatively small size of the study population.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cohort Studies
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Eye / pathology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • France / epidemiology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / drug therapy
  • Graft vs Host Disease / epidemiology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / etiology*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / pathology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Incidence
  • Leukemia / therapy
  • Life Tables
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth / pathology
  • Organ Specificity
  • Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Recurrence
  • Skin / pathology
  • Survival Analysis
  • Transplantation Chimera
  • Transplantation, Homologous / adverse effects
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Viscera / pathology

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents