Radiotherapy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Radiotherapy, including details on cancer treatment, side effects.

The rationale behind autologous autoimmune hematopoietic stem cell transplant conditioning regimens: concerns over the use of total-body irradiation in systemic sclerosis.

Burt RK, Patel D, Thomas J, Yeager A, Traynor A, Heipe F, Arnold R, Marmont A, Collier D, Glatstein E, Snowden J

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is becoming an increasingly recognized indication for treatment of autoimmune diseases and severe immune-mediated disorders. However, multicenter registry data have demonstrated higher than anticipated early toxicity, approximately 10% for autoimmune diseases in general, and 20-27% for diffuse systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). If uncorrected, this high treatment-related mortality will hinder development of stem cell therapy for immune-mediated diseases. In order to develop safer regimens, we address some pitfalls and concepts involved in design and selection of conditioning regimens for autoimmune diseases in general, and because it is associated with the highest regimen-related toxicity, scleroderma in specific.

Published 15 October 2004 in Bone Marrow Transplant, 34(9): 745-51.
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