Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for systemic lupus erythematosus: data from the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry:

ObjectivesPatients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) refractory to conventional immunosuppression suffer substantial morbidity and mortality due to active disease and treatment toxicity. Immunoablation followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a novel therapeutic strategy that potentially offers new hope to these patients.MethodsThis retrospective survey reviews the efficacy and safety of ASCT in 28 SLE patients from eight centres reported to the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) registry between 2001 and 2008.ResultsMedian disease duration before ASCT was 52 (nine to 396) months, 25/28 SLE patients (89%) were female, age 29 (16–48) years. At the time of ASCT, eight (one to 11) American College of Rheumatology (ACR) diagnostic criteria for SLE were present and 17 (60%) patients had nephritis. Peripheral blood stem cells were mobilized with cyclophosphamide and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in 93% of patients, and ex vivo CD34 stem cell selection was ...