Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for severe/refractory intestinal Behcet disease

Abstract

infusion of DFO. The data from the 5 patients who remained in the study, together with data from 7 additional cases, are shown in Table We did not record any adverse events in the 7 new cases, after a median follow-up of 28 months. As regards the second group of 11 transfusionindependent patients, 3 patients (patient nos. 16, 23, and 27) died due to progression/relapse of disease and 2 patients (patient nos. 18 and 26), who are still alive, came out of the protocol because they restarted chemotherapy due to relapse of the hematologic malignancy. In the remaining 6 patients (patient nos. 11, 13, 20, 21, 24, and 25), the twice-daily subcutaneous bolus injections of DFO normalized ferritin levels. In these patients, who did not require transfusions during the follow-up after chemotherapy, DFO bolus injections were stopped once normal ferritin levels had been reached. The ferritin levels were then monitored every 3 months. Patient number 20 (with spherocytosis and hereditary hemochromatosis) started a maintenance phlebotomy program with bolus injection of DFO due to an increase of serum ferritin levels (780 g/L).