Daclizumab for children with corticosteroid refractory graft-versus-host disease.

Abstract	Daclizumab, a humanized IL-2 receptor antagonist, has been found to be safe and effective in adults with refractory graft-versus-host disease (GVHD); however, data describing its efficacy for refractory GVHD in children are limited. We report a series of 14 children who were treated with daclizumab for severe acute and/or chronic corticosteroid refractory GVHD. Patients were treated with 2 mg/kg weekly for 8 weeks followed by 1 mg/kg weekly for 4 weeks. Nine of 14 patients responded to daclizumab as measured by improvement of GVHD symptoms, and the ability to substantially wean corticosteroid dose. Five of 11 patients with acute GVHD had complete symptom resolution, and 2/11 had a partial response. Two of four patients with chronic GVHD had complete symptom resolution. In these patients, daclizumab was only effective in treating skin GVHD. Seven of the nine patients who had a complete or partial response eventually had recurrence of GVHD; however, the GVHD was less severe and no longer corticosteroid refractory. There was no infusional toxicity, and no infections that could be attributable to the drug. Daclizumab is a relatively safe and effective medication for corticosteroid refractory GVHD in children and larger studies are needed to evaluate its role in treatment.
Authors	D T Teachey, B Bickert, N Bunin
Journal	Bone marrow transplantation (Bone Marrow Transplant) Vol. 37 Issue 1 Pg. 95-9 (Jan 2006) ISSN: 0268-3369 [Print] England
PMID	16247417 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)
Chemical References	Adrenal Cortex Hormones Antibodies, Monoclonal Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized Immunoglobulin G Immunosuppressive Agents Daclizumab
Topics	Acute Disease Adolescent Adrenal Cortex Hormones (therapeutic use) Antibodies, Monoclonal (administration & dosage) Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized Child Child, Preschool Chronic Disease Daclizumab Disease-Free Survival Drug Resistance (drug effects) Female Graft vs Host Disease (drug therapy, mortality) Hematologic Diseases (complications, metabolism, therapy) Humans Immunoglobulin G (administration & dosage) Immunosuppressive Agents (administration & dosage) Infant Male Recurrence Remission Induction Stem Cell Transplantation Transplantation, Homologous

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.

Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!