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Immunosuppression Discontinuation in Chronic GVHD

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant; ePub 2017 Aug 7; Curtis, et al

Publish date:

Using National Institutes of Health (NIH) scoring and specific clinical measures can help predict which patients affected with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) are likely able to discontinue systemic immunosuppression therapy, according to a study involving 227 individuals.

Participants had a median of 4 prior systemic therapy regimens and had either moderate (n=54) or severe (n=170) cGVHD. They were seen once at the NIH and then monitored for survival and ability to discontinue cGVHD systemic therapy. Among the results:

  • Overall, at a median follow-up of 71 months, nearly 10% discontinued systemic therapy at 2 years.
  • 28% discontinued such treatment 5 years after the initial visit.
  • Patients with lower NIH global severity and lung scores, and those with less extensive deep sclerosis had a higher likelihood of immunosuppression discontinuation.
  • Patients with lower 0-10 severity NIH scores, as well as those taking non-cyclosporine prophylaxis regimens also had a higher likelihood of such.

Citation:

Curtis L, Pirsl F, Steinberg S, et al. Predictors for permanent discontinuation of systemic immunosuppression in severely affected chronic graft-versus-host disease patients. [Published online ahead of print August 7, 2017]. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. doi:10.1016/j.bbmt.2017.08.005.

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