Article on screening GVHD

[Marlene]

Interesting article on a test available now to help determine a person's risk of GVHD.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0807204841.htm

[Birgitta-A]

Very important finding, Marlene!
Kind regards
Birgitta-A

[Neil Cuadra]

If this correlation pans out in further studies, it could benefit both the patients likely to suffer from GVHD and those who are less likely. In both cases, post transplant treatment could be modified based on the GVHD risk.

Those with a high level of ST2, indicating that GVHD is more likely, might get earlier intervention or higher doses of immunosuppressives, while those with a low ST2 level would be able to take smaller doses and avoid the associated side effects.

[Heather8773]

Thank you for sharing Marlene

[Marlene]

Hi Heather,

Hopefully you'll be able to utilize this test prior to your husband's BMT.

M

[sbk007]

Originally Posted by Neil Cuadra

If this correlation pans out in further studies, it could benefit both the patients likely to suffer from GVHD and those who are less likely. In both cases, post transplant treatment could be modified based on the GVHD risk.

Those with a high level of ST2, indicating that GVHD is more likely, might get earlier intervention or higher doses of immunosuppressives, while those with a low ST2 level would be able to take smaller doses and avoid the associated side effects.

It sounds promising as do the other articles that make references to markers @ that website. Don't know how hard it is to test for ST2 but sounds reasonable enough that if it had promise BMT clinicians would be all over it. After all how hard could it be to test blood? Encouraging to see them look for markers, lets hope they find one.
Thx for posting!!

[sobrien]

Does anyone know if they are testing for ST2 when looking at individuals who might be a candidate for a stem cell transplant? Is this a test that might be done at Fred Hutch? I have an appointment with Dr. Bart Scott next week and would sure like to get this test.

[Neil Cuadra]

Originally Posted by sobrien

Does anyone know if they are testing for ST2 when looking at individuals who might be a candidate for a stem cell transplant? Is this a test that might be done at Fred Hutch? I have an appointment with Dr. Bart Scott next week and would sure like to get this test.

The article says that the ST2 test won't produce meaningful results until 14 days after a transplant. So it's not going to help predict who should get a transplant, only how to treat post-transplant patients BEFORE a month post-transplant, when graft-versus-host disease typically shows up.

[Marlene]

Thanks for catching that Neil. Even though it's after the transplant, it's still pretty significant.

Here's the original New England Journal article:

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1213299

[Heather8773]

I will ask Marlene thank you

Even if it's fourteen days later dose anyone know if that means you get a better chance of combating GVHD before symptoms start?

[Neil Cuadra]

Originally Posted by Heather8773

Even if it's fourteen days later dose anyone know if that means you get a better chance of combating GVHD before symptoms start?

Yes, that's the benefit we'd hope to gain from this method of detection. When they know you are likely to experience GVHD they can treat you accordingly, hoping to suppress it or lessen the severity, even before symptoms appear.

[Heather8773]

That's amazing news! I was reading it can take awhile to find out if you would be affected by GVHD, I'm happy that there are tests to lessen that fear and waiting period!
I'll let yall know if his DRs will agree to this test.