Blood, 1 March 2003, Vol. 101, No. 5, pp. 2064-2066
TRANSPLANTATION
Brief report
High-dose immune suppression and autologous hematopoietic stem
cell transplantation in refractory Crohn disease
Richard K. Burt,
Ann Traynor,
Yu Oyama, and
Robert Craig
From the Division of Immunotherapy, Northwestern
University Medical School, Chicago, IL.
Two patients with severe Crohn disease, defined by a Crohn
Disease Activity Index (CDAI) higher than 250 despite
anti-tumor necrosis factor
(TNF-
), were treated by intense
immune suppression and autologous hematopoietic stem cell
transplantation (HSCT). Stem cells were mobilized from the peripheral
blood using cyclophosphamide (2.0 g/m2) and granulocyte
colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; 5 µg/kg/d), enriched ex
vivo by CD34+ selection, and reinfused after immune
conditioning with cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg) and equine
anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG; 90 mg/kg). Patients have remained
in remission (CDAI < 100) for 1 year since HSCT. We
conclude that further HSCT studies for severe Crohn disease appear warranted.