Autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in a patient with severe mixed connective tissue disease

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for autoimmune diseases

Ten years have passed since the first published consensus statement on the use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in the treatment of severe autoimmune disease (AD) appeared. During that time, around 700 patients suffering from severe AD have undergone HSCT in the frame of phase I/II clinical trials from over 20 countries including the US. The majority have received an autologous HSCT using one of a limited number of regimens, consistent with the original consensus statement. Long-term drug-free remissions, remission then relapse, no response and treatment-related mortality (TRM) were seen in all the subgroups of AD. An overall TRM of 7% was observed, with marked variation between ADs, i.e. 11% in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and only 1 patient in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Phase III prospective, comparative randomized trials are running or being planned in multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic sclerosis (SSc), SLE and RA. Basic science programs are also being undertaken to study the immunological mechanisms underlying the clinical events observed.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for autoimmune diseases

Experimental data and early phase I/II studies suggest that high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can arrest progression of severe autoimmune diseases. We have evaluated the toxicity and disease response in 473 patients with severe autoimmune disease treated with autologous HSCT between 1995 and 2003, from 110 centers participating in the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) autoimmune disease working party database. Survival, transplant-related mortality, treatment response and disease progression were assessed. In all, 420 patients (89%; 86+/-4% at 3 years, median follow-up 20 months) were alive, 53 (11%) had died from transplant-related mortality (N=31; 7+/-3% at 3 years) or disease progression (N=22; 9+/-4% at 3 years). Of 370 patients, 299 evaluable for response (81%) showed a treatment response, which was sustained in 213 (71% of responders). Response was associated with disease (P<0.001), was better in patients who received cyclophosphamide during mobilization (relative risk (RR)3.28 (1.57-6.83)) and was worse with increasing age (>40 years, RR0.29 (0.11-0.82)). Disease progression was associated with disease (P<0.001) and conditioning intensity (high intensity, RR1; intermediate intensity, RR1.81 (0.96-3.42)); low intensity, RR2.34 (1.074-5.11)). These data from the collective EBMT experience support the hypothesis that autologous HSCT can alter disease progression in severe autoimmune disease.

Muscle Involvement in Mixed Connective Tissue Disease

Muscle disease has been recognized as a common feature of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) since its first description in 1972. In the absence of clinical trials that are directed specifically at the myositis of MCTD, patients should be treated in the manner that is recommended for other forms of myositis. Myositis of MCTD may have a better prognosis than other forms of myositis.

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for the treatment of systemic sclerosis and other autoimmune disorders

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) with involvement of vital organs has up to 50% 5-year mortality and no treatment is known which changes the natural history. Although components of vascular, immunological and fibrotic processes are involved, drugs such as cyclophosphamide (CY), an alkylating agent and a potent immunosuppressive, have been partially effective in uncontrolled studies. The dose of such agents is limited by the inevitable toxicity on the bone marrow, but this threshold may be superseded by first removing the patient's own haematopoietic stem cells, followed by reconstitution of the marrow after high-dose myeloablative CY or other therapy. This autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) technique has been applied to approximately 650 patients with severe autoimmune diseases worldwide, > 100 of whom had SSc. Of these, 75 are included in the Basle registry. Around 70% of patients responded with a significant (> 25%) improvement of the thickened skin and stabilisation of vital organ involvement. Approximately a third achieved a durable remission. The treatment-related mortality was 8.5%. Based on these encouraging Phase I/II study results, several multi-centre, international, prospective randomised Phase III trials are running or being planned. The preliminary data suggest that through such a jolt of heavy immunosuppression, the dysregulated autoaggressive immune system may be re-regulated. It is hypothesised that this results in fewer autoinflammatory and unwanted stimulatory signals to other systems such as vascular endothelium and fibroblasts, and these mechanisms are currently under study.

Haemopoietic stem cell transplantation in autoimmune diseases: a European perspective

The potential of haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases was originally supported by almost three decades of animal experiments and by the serendipitous remissions of autoimmune disease observed in patients undergoing transplantation for haematological disorders. Improved safety of both autologous and allogeneic HSCT over the last decade has been followed by increasing acceptance of HSCT as an experimental treatment for severe autoimmune diseases that are resistant to conventional treatment. International databases have collated over 700 procedures performed specifically for a variety of autoimmune diseases. Phase III clinical trials are in progress for some diseases. This review provides a comprehensive update on the efficacy and toxicity of HSCT in severe autoimmune disease. Future directions in the context of other evolving therapies are discussed.