What is photopheresis?

Photopheresis, also known as extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP), is a form of apheresis therapy. First introduced for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), it has since been evaluated in studies and randomized trials as a potential treatment for autoimmune diseases, solid organ transplant rejection, and graft-versus-host disease. ECP is a relatively new procedure that involves discontinuous leukapheresis by centrifugation, followed by exposure of the buffy coat lymphocytes to UVA light in a special unit about 2 hours after the administration of methoxsalen. Following exposure of the lymphocytes to UVA, the photoirradiated cells are reinfused into the patient. The procedure is done on two consecutive days at 4-week intervals. The adverse side effects are minimal; patients may experience nausea and about 10% develop a transient fever after reinfusion.