Introduction: Background and purpose: Exteracorpeal photophoresis (ECP) is an immunomodulatory therapy used to treat graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) Used in adults and children. Few studies have examined its use in children. The aim of this review study was to evaluate the effects of photophoresis in reducing the symptoms of GVHD in children.
Methods: Methods: This review article is the result of reviewing and studying various databases Med line, Pub Med, Scholar, Science Direct.
Results: Discussion: Host versus host disease is a common complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT); As a result of the transplantation of immune cells from the donor, the patient's cells are identified externally. Thus, transplanted immune cells attack cells. The main affected organs are the skin, liver, and intestines, among other organ tissues. First-line treatment usually includes corticosteroids and in combination with other immunosuppressive agents in resistant cases. The limited effectiveness and severe side effects of these immunosuppressive drugs have led to the use of several alternative methods. photophoresis is an immune-modifying treatment that involves collecting immune cells from peripheral blood outside the body. These immune cells are then exposed to a photoactive agent (eg 8, methoxypsoralen) and subsequent UV-A radiation and then re-injected. The immunomodulatory effects of this method are not fully understood. Several current clinical studies recommend that photophoresis be considered in pediatric patients with acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Conclusion: Conclusion: In general, photophoresis is well tolerated in children and few side effects have been reported. As a result, photophoresis is a very safe treatment for GVHD in children with high clinical response rates, mainly in the skin and mucous membranes, and this reduces the dose of corticosteroids and other adjuvant immunosuppressants. Based on these observations and considering the multiple adverse effects of drugs used in this disease, it is concluded that in children with acute or chronic GVHD, photophoresis may be useful in reducing complications and mortality and improving quality of life.
Keywords: Keywords: Extrecorporeal photophoresis, graft versus host disease, children