EXTRACORPOREAL PHOTOPHERESIS

Abstract

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is a technique that was developed > 20 years ago to treat erythrodermic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). The technique involves removal of peripheral blood, separation of the buffy coat, and photoactivation with 8-methoxypsoralen and ultraviolet A irradiation before einfusion of cells. Used alone or in combination with biological agents, ECP is a first-line treatment for CTCL. ECP has also shown promising efficacy in a number of other severe and diffivult-to-treat conditions, including graft-versus-host disease, prevention and treatment of rejection in solid organ transplantation and Crohn disease. ECP is well tolerated, with no clinically side effects.