Photopheresis

Donna Blaird-Wagner, NP

Photopheresis involves light-activated treatment of circulating blood cells outside the body. After irradiation, the altered cells are re-infused into the patient.  Photopheresis is a safe and effective treatment for some patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma. Photopheresis may act by modifying the patient's own immune response to his/her disease. On this basis, the therapy is being extended to graft vs. host disease, organ transplantations, and early scleroderma and other autoimmune diseases.