Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for systemic lupus erythematosus 10-year follow-up / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the long-term efficacy of autologous stem cell transplantation for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Long-term follow up of 48 SLE patients with autologous stem cell transplantation were studied. All patients were followed up for 10 years. Among the patients, 24 cases were treated with purified CD34+ cells transplantation and 24 cases were treated with non-CD34+ cell transplantation. Comparison between groups was performed by x2 test. Results Among 5 dead patients, 4 died of transplantation related complications including 3 cases treated with CD34+ transplantion. The survival rate of those patients with more than 10 years duration of lupus was 90%(43/48). Among 43 patients, 7 had disease flare, 6 were treated with non-CD34+ cell transplantation. Eight patients went to college, 26 returned to normal life and 4 of them had children. Conclusion The long-term effect of SLE treated with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) is good. The recurrence of CD34+ transplant patients is lower than those treated with non-CD34+ transplantation. The quality of life in SLE patients treated with transplantation is better than those treated with conventional therapy.