Treatment of severe cardiac allograft rejection with extracorporeal photochemotherapy
- 1 January 1994
- journal article
- case report
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Clinical Apheresis
- Vol. 9 (3) , 171-175
- https://doi.org/10.1002/jca.2920090306
Abstract
Two patients were treated with photopheresis for marked cardiac allograft rejection with hemodynamic compromise that had become unresponsive to standard therapy. Multiple episodes of rejection had occurred, and initial response to standard therapy was favorable. However, progressive deterioration was documented by serial endomyocardial biopsies, fever, congestive heart failure, and abnormal cardiac catheterization findings. In the absence of retransplantation, death seemed imminent. Photopheresis was begun. Both patients received oral 8‐methoxypsoralen and ⩾5 × 109 mononuclear cells were collected, treated with ultraviolet light A for 1.5 hours, and were reinfused. One procedure was performed weekly X4 and then monthly X5. Responses were striking with rapid loss of fever, improvement in exercise tolerance, normalization of cardiac hemodynamics, and improvement in endomyocardial biopsies. Although our experience with these two patients is anecdotal, photopheresis merits further study as treatment for severe cardiac allograft rejection.Keywords
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