Kim D, Taparia M, Robinson E, Mcgee M, Merali T. Navigating the Complexity of Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease: Canadian Insights into Real-World Treatment Sequencing.
Transplant Proc 2024;
56:409-415. [PMID:
38342748 DOI:
10.1016/j.transproceed.2023.12.021]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Graft-vs-Host Disease (GVHD) is a donor immune-mediated syndrome occurring in patients who undergo an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). Chronic GVHD (cGVHD) presents with complications of variable severity. Corticosteroids are standard first-line (1L) treatment, but the sequence after 1L is unclear with the availability of new treatments. This research aimed to understand real-world treatment sequencing for cGVHD.
METHODS
This retrospective study investigated adult patients across 7 treatment sites in Canada who had received an allogeneic HCT >18 months prior to the study, experienced cGVHD, and received systemic treatment, including extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP).
RESULTS
A total of 77 cases were reviewed retrospectively (median age = 51 (IQR 41-62), 51% female). 59 patients remained on active systemic treatment, and among this group, the most common treatments in use were corticosteroids (47%) and ruxolitinib (47%). One patient died, and 17 patients were on non-systemic treatment after complications resolved. The median lines of treatment (LOT) received was 2 (IQR 1-3), with 39% of patients having received >2 LOT. Among patients with lung complications (n = 24), 41% had received 3 or more LOT. Among patients with scleroderma (n = 22), 77% had received 3 or more LOT, 23% of which had received 6 or more unique treatments.
CONCLUSIONS
The first treatment given to cGVHD patients was corticosteroids. Ruxolitinib was the most used second-line treatment. About 40% of cGVHD patients received >2 treatments, and scleroderma was associated with more LOT. There is a need for more effective cGVHD treatment options when early treatments fail to resolve complications.
Collapse