Definition
Photopheresis combines the technique of apheresis with psoralen ultraviolet A phototherapy. Mononuclear cells are removed from circulation by apheresis, then exposed to psoralen, followed by a brief treatment with UVA light. The process appears to be effective in treatment of T cell leukemia and various autoimmune diseases through the removal or induction of tolerance toward pathogenic T lymphocytes.
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Psoralen is a compound which is biologically inert unless exposed to ultraviolet light (UVA) (PUVA therapy). During UVA exposure psoralen can covalently crosslink DNA. Though this effect lasts only as long as the UVA irradiation, it has potent anti-proliferative results. PUVA therapy is a very effective treatment for psoriatic arthritis since pathogenic T cells are accessible for UVA exposure at the skin surface. Photopheresis makes use of the same technique by collecting circulating mononuclear cells via apheresis techniques, then exposing the cells to psoralen....
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References
Mayes MD (2000) Photopheresis and autoimmune diseases. Rheum Dis Clin NA 26:75–81
Oliven A, Shechter Y (2001) Extracorporeal photopheresis: a review. Blood Rev 15:103–8
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© 2004 Springer-Verlag
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(2004). Photopheresis. In: Moreland, L.W. (eds) Rheumatology and Immunology Therapy. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-29662-X_2157
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-29662-X_2157
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-20625-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-29662-1
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