Defibrotide: real-world management of veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstructive syndrome after stem cell transplant

Abstract

Abstract Hepatic veno-occlusive disease or sinusoidal obstructive syndrome (VOD/SOS) is a life-threatening complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Defibrotide is the only medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the management of severe VOD/SOS after HSCT. We report our center’s experience with commercially available defibrotide as treatment of patients with VOD/SOS. We retrospectively identified 28 cases of VOD/SOS, based on the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation criteria, from March 2016 through June 2019. The median day of VOD/SOS onset was 25 days (range, 8-69 days), and defibrotide was initiated on day of diagnosis in 71% of patients. Complete resolution of VOD/SOS occurred in 75% of patients. Day 100 survival was 64% for all HSCT patients and 53% for those with very severe VOD/SOS. Response rates and survival were similar in patients with VOD/SOS after myeloablative or reduced-intensity chemotherapy HSCT. Therapy-related adverse events were mild and included hematuria (43%), epistaxis (18%), and hypotension (11%). Severe hemorrhagic adverse events occurred in 2 patients (pulmonary hemorrhage and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage; 7%) and both in the setting of progressive VOD/SOS. Early diagnosis, prompt initiation of defibrotide, and minimization of dosing interruptions may be key to successful treatment of VOD/SOS.