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Extracorporeal photochemotherapy

Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 7:53 am
by dignan
Never heard of this treatment before.




Extracorporeal photochemotherapy: a safety and tolerability pilot study with preliminary efficacy results in refractory relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Neurol Sci. 2006 Apr;27(1):24-32.
Cavaletti G, Perseghin P, Dassi M, Cavarretta R, Frigo M, Caputo D, Stanzani L, Tagliabue E, Zoia C, Grimaldi M, Isella V, Rota S, Ferrarese C, Frattola L.
D.N.T.B., University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, I-20052, Monza (MI), Italy.

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) is an immunomodulating procedure consisting of autologous reinfusion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after direct exposure to 8-methoxy-psoralen and UV-A. It has been described as a successful treatment for different T-cell-mediated diseases and preliminary results suggest that ECP might be effective in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, but does not significantly alter the course of the progressive form of MS.

In this study, we report the safety data and some preliminary efficacy evidence obtained using ECP in the treatment of five patients with refractory relapsing-remitting (RR) MS: in most cases ECP induced a reduction in the relapse rate and an EDSS stabilisation, with an apparent general MRI stabilisation.

In conclusion, our results confirm ECP safety and tolerability and suggest that this treatment might be useful as a therapeutic alternative in the subgroup of RRMS patients not responsive to or not eligible for traditional immunomodulating or immunosuppressive treatments.

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Extracorporeal photochemotherapy

Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 2:02 am
by NHE
Here's some info on it from the Mayoclinic where the treatment is also known as Extracorporeal-Systemic Methoxsalen. It appears to be another treatment used in cancer therapy.
The treated white blood cells are returned to your body to control skin problems associated with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph system.
It also appears to have some pretty serious side effects which greatly increase your skin's sensitity to light.
Methoxsalen is a very strong medicine that increases the skin's sensitivity to sunlight. In addition to causing serious sunburns, if precautions are not properly taken, it has been reported to increase the chance of skin cancer and cataracts. Too much sunlight can also cause premature aging of the skin.
and...
This medicine increases the sensitivity of your skin to sunlight and also may cause premature aging of the skin. Therefore, exposure to the sun, even through window glass or on a cloudy day, could cause a serious burn . If you must go out during the daylight hours:
  • After each treatment, cover your skin with protective clothing for at least 24 hours . In addition, use a sun block product that has a skin protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 on those areas of your body that cannot be covered. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
For 24 hours after your methoxsalen treatment, your eyes should be protected during daylight hours with special wraparound sunglasses that totally block or absorb ultraviolet light (ordinary sunglasses are not adequate). This is to prevent cataracts. Your doctor will tell you what kind of sunglasses to use. These glasses should be worn even in indirect light, such as light coming through a window, or on a cloudy day.
NHE