Extracorporeal photopheresis in recalcitrant lupus erythematosus

Extracorporeal Photopheresis in Dermatological Diseases

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an apheresis procedure that is conventionally used as a first-line treatment for cutaneous and leukemic subtypes of T-cell lymphoma, such as Sezary's syndrome and mycosis fungoides. Over the past three decades, its immunotherapeutic properties have been tested on a variety of autoimmune conditions, including many dermatologic diseases. There is ample evidence of ECP's ability to modify leukocytes and alter cytokine production for certain dermatologic diseases that have been refractory to first-line treatments, such as atopic dermatitis. However, the evidence on the efficacy of ECP for the treatment of these dermatologic diseases is unclear and/or lacks sufficient evidence. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on the utilization and clinical efficacy of ECP in the treatment of several [autoimmune] dermatologic diseases and discuss its applications, guidelines, recommendations, and future implementation for dermatologic diseases.

European dermatology forum: Updated guidelines on the use of extracorporeal photopheresis 2020 - Part 2

Background

Following the first investigational study on the use of extracorporeal photopheresis for the treatment of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma published in 1983, this technology has received continued use and further recognition for additional earlier as well as refractory forms. After the publication of the first guidelines for this technology in the JEADV in 2014, this technology has maintained additional promise in the treatment of other severe and refractory conditions in a multidisciplinary setting. It has confirmed recognition in well‐known documented conditions such as graft‐vs.‐host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, systemic sclerosis, solid organ transplant rejection including lung, heart and liver and to a lesser extent inflammatory bowel disease.

Materials and methods

In order to further provide recognized expert practical guidelines for the use of this technology for all indications, the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) again proceeded to address these questions in the hands of the recognized experts within and outside the field of dermatology. This was done using the recognized and approved guidelines of EDF for this task. All authors had the opportunity to review each contribution as it was added.

Results and conclusion

These updated 2020 guidelines provide at present the most comprehensive available expert recommendations for the use of extracorporeal photopheresis based on the available published literature and expert consensus opinion. The guidelines were divided into two parts: PART I covers Cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma, chronic graft‐vs.‐host disease and acute graft‐vs.‐host disease, while PART II will cover scleroderma, solid organ transplantation, Crohn’s disease, use of ECP in paediatric patients, atopic dermatitis, type 1 diabetes, pemphigus, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita and erosive oral lichen planus.

Extracorporeal photopheresis as a therapy for autoimmune diseases

Systemic autoimmune diseases (AID) have multiorgan, heterogeneous clinical presentations and are characterized by dysregulation of the immune system, immunodeficiency, irreversible organ damage and increased morbidity and mortality. Preventing or decreasing flares of AID correlate with durable disease control, significant reduction of inflammation and prevention of disability or therapy-related toxicity. There is an urgent need for better treatment of severe, therapy-refractory AID. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is a cell-based immunomodulatory treatment which has been extensively used in variety of autoimmune disorders for the last two decades. ECP treatment is FDA approved for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) with particularly promising results seen in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Prolonged therapy is safe, well tolerated and allows reduction of systemic immunosuppression in therapy-refractory patients. Both clinical and experimental evidence suggest that ECP mechanism of action is characterized by apoptosis and phagocytosis of activated cells by antigen-presenting cells (APC), secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines and stimulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs). The focus of this paper is to review the current evidence of ECP use in the treatment of AID. Here, we summarize the experience of nine major AID from 65 published reports. The key findings demonstrate substantial evidence of ECP feasibility, safety and in some AID also promising efficacy. However, the role of ECP in AID therapy is not established as most published studies are retrospective with limited number of patients and the trials are small or poorly standardized. The available data support future investigations of ECP as a therapeutic modality for the treatment of AID in well-designed prospective clinical studies. J

Guidelines on the use of extracorporeal photopheresis

BACKGROUND

After the first investigational study on the use of extracorporeal photopheresis for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma was published in 1983 with its subsequent recognition by the FDA for its refractory forms, the technology has shown significant promise in the treatment of other severe and refractory conditions in a multi-disciplinary setting. Among the major studied conditions are graft versus host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, systemic sclerosis, solid organ transplant rejection and inflammatory bowel disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In order to provide recognized expert practical guidelines for the use of this technology for all indications the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) proceeded to address these questions in the hands of the recognized experts within and outside the field of dermatology. This was done using the recognized and approved guidelines of EDF for this task.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

These guidelines provide at present the most comprehensive available expert recommendations for the use of extracorporeal photopheresis based on the available published literature and expert consensus opinion.

Miscellaneous indications for extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP)

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) has been applied to many T-cell mediated diseases where immunosuppressive drugs are insufficient or not tolerated. As ECP is mainly used in rare indications after failure of other therapies, controlled studies are hardly possible. In addition, the importance of the extracorporeal circuit imposes ethical doubts in organising sham ECP procedure, which explains the rarity of controlled double-blind studies. However, encouraging and even successful results have been reported in newly developed diabetes mellitus, erosive lichen planus, Crohn's disease, systemic sclerosis, nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy, atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematodes, psoriasis arthritis, cutaneous mucinosis, scleromyxoedema, pemphigus vulgaris, multiple sclerosis, eosinophilic fasciitis and in the prevention of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) restenosis. This article discusses the various levels of evidence in the above cited indications.

[Four cases of photopheresis treatment for cutaneous lupus erythematosus refractory to standard therapy]

BACKGROUND

Photopheresis is a leucopheresis procedure in which cells are photoactivated by psoralen and then irradiated by ultraviolet A. We report four cases of women with refractory cutaneous lupus erythematosus (LE) who responded to this treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We treated one patient with subacute LE having a contraindication to antimalarials and to thalidomide and three patients with chronic LE (lupus panniculitis, lupus tumidus and disseminated discoid LE) refractory to treatment with hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, thalidomide and dapsone, and also, in some cases, to oral and intravenous corticosteroids, methotrexate, colchicine, acitretine, sulfasalazine, mycophenolate mofetil and intravenous immunoglobulin. Treatment consisted of two 4-hour sessions fortnightly. Only antimalarials were continued during photopheresis.

RESULTS

Photopheresis had a positive effect on all four patients. We noticed complete remission in two patients and interruption of progression followed by partial remission in the other two after a mean delay of two to three months of treatment. All treatments other than antimalarials were stopped.

DISCUSSION

Photopheresis appears to be an effective treatment option in patients with cutaneous LE. Due to its high cost, it should nevertheless remain an exceptional therapeutic option restricted to patients with cutaneous LE resistant to standard therapy.