Treatment of refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with low-dose interleukin-2

Abstract

Refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is the complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) that signi ficantly impacts quality of life, may be associated with morbidity and mortality and has limited treatment options. 16 adult pts (median age 22, range 16 - 51 y.o.) with refractory cGVHD were enrolled. 6 pts were on steroids upon inclusion. 11 patients had severe (NIH) cGVHD, 6 - moderate, and have received 1-3 anti-cGVHD treatments before IL-2. Pts received IL-2 sc injections 1 MIU 3 times a week. Median duration of treatment was 2.5 moths (range 1 - 8 months). Partial clinical response was observed in 5 pts, complete response in 2 pts with overall response of 44 %. There was an improvement of Karnofsky in 25 % of pts, reduction in NIH severity scores in 37.5 % of and any objective response also in 44 % of pts. With median follow-up of 14 months overall survival was 62.5 %, non-relapse mortality was 12.5 % (2 pts), 25 % of patients had a relapse of underlying disease.