CLINICAL EFFICACY OF EXTRA-CORPOREAL PHOTOCHEMOTHERAPY IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Aim: To assess clinical efficacy of extracorporeal photochemotherapy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Materials and methods: 30 SLE patients were thoroughly examined. 16 of them received medical treatment and extracorporeal photochemotherapy (treatment group), 14 patients  – routine therapy only (controls). Extracorporeal photochemotherapy involved administration of 8-methoxypsoralen 0.6 mg/kg 1.5–2 hours before the initiation of intermittent flow separation of mononuclear cells using Haemonetics MCS+ blood cells separator and corresponding protocol. Cell suspension was exposed to UV-radiation (λ=320– 400 nm) using blood irradiator Julia (10–15 ml/min) during 30 minutes then re-infused. In total, 4 procedures were conducted every other day. Results: After 3 courses of extracorporeal photochemotherapy, effect (reduced eruptions) was obtained in 14 patients (46.7%). Then, the patients underwent maintenance photochemotherapy 2–3 times a year. Conclusion: Extracorporeal photochemotherapy was effective in the treatment of SLE. Immunological studies have demonstrated pathogenetic effects of extracorporeal photochemotherapy