Long-term follow-up of autologous stem cell transplantation for refractory juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Summary:Since 1997, autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) had been applied to more than 40 children with polyarticular or systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). For this review, results of the follow-up are available from 25 children with systemic JIA and six with polyarticular JIA that were reported in detail from eight different pediatric European transplant centers. Before ASCT all children had progressive disease despite the use of corticosteroids, methotrexate (MTX) up to 1?mg/kg/week, cyclosporin (2.5?mg/kg/day) and/or anti-TNFa therapy. The clinical follow-up of these children ranges from 8 to 60 months (median 33 months).Bone Marrow Transplantation (2003) 32, S61-S64. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1703946 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]