TY - JOUR T1 - Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant for Systemic Sclerosis Improves Anemia from Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 554 LP - 555 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.141234 VL - 42 IS - 3 AU - ABIR BHATTACHARYYA AU - JOANNE SAHHAR AU - SAM MILLIKEN AU - DAVID MA AU - HELEN ENGLERT AU - KATHLEEN TYMMS AU - MARK DANTA AU - JOHN MOORE Y1 - 2015/03/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/42/3/554.abstract N2 - To the Editor:Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a severe autoimmune condition characterized by both fibrotic and vascular complications. This can progress to functionally devastating subcutaneous fibrosis, as well as death from pulmonary, cardiac, renal, or gastrointestinal (GI) involvement1. High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the first therapy to show evidence of clinically significant improvement in skin and lung function as well as quality of life in SSc when compared to intravenous cyclophosphamide (CYC)2. The multi-center, phase III randomized trial, Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation International Scleroderma, also showed a significant benefit in longterm, event-free survival with autologous HSCT compared to CYC, despite a higher early treatment-related mortality3. A publication from the European Group for Blood and Marrow transplantation (EBMT) has updated guidelines for autologous HSCT in autoimmune diseases, including SSc4.GI involvement is the presenting feature of the disease … Address correspondence to Dr. A. Bhattacharyya, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Haematology, 390 Victoria St., Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia. E-mail: abir123{at}gmail.com ER -