Successful autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using thiotepa in a patient with systemic sclerosis and cardiac involvement

Tohoku J Exp Med. 2006 May;209(1):61-7. doi: 10.1620/tjem.209.61.

Abstract

A 19-year-old man with systemic sclerosis (SSc) was hospitalized for autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT) due to progressive scleroderma and cardiac involvement despite conventional treatment. During the administration of cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg/day for 2 days) for mobilization and collection of CD34+ selected peripheral blood stem cells, he developed congestive heart failure. Echocardiogram showed hypokinetic asynergy from the septum to posterior wall, which might indicate underlying cardiac damage. We were also concerned about the risk of high-dose cyclophosphamide-induced cardiotoxicity. Since the dose-limiting toxicity of thiotepa, an alkylating agent, is myelosuppression, and cardiac toxicity due to thiotepa is less common, we used a conditioning regimen consisting of thiotepa (10 mg/kg/day, day -5) and low-dose cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg/day, days -3 and -2), instead of the conventional high-dose cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg/day x 4 days/course). The post-transplant course was uneventful, and the modified Rodnan skin thickness score improved from 32 to 15. The present case report demonstrates that thiotepa can be employed as a conditioning regimen for auto-PBSCT in SSc patients with cardiac involvement in order to reduce cyclophosphamide-induced cardiotoxicity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / pharmacology*
  • Cyclophosphamide / adverse effects
  • Cyclophosphamide / pharmacology
  • Heart Diseases / chemically induced
  • Heart Diseases / physiopathology
  • Heart Diseases / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myeloablative Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / physiopathology
  • Scleroderma, Systemic / therapy*
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Thiotepa / pharmacology*
  • Time Factors
  • Transplantation, Autologous

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Myeloablative Agonists
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Thiotepa