@article{GernertTonyFroehlichetal.2022,
  author    = {Gernert, Michael and Tony, Hans-Peter and Fr{\"o}hlich, Matthias and Schwaneck, Eva Christina and Schmalzing, Marc},
  title     = {Immunosuppressive therapy after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in systemic sclerosis patients — high efficacy of Rituximab},
  series = {Frontiers in Immunology},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {Frontiers in Immunology},
  issn      = {1664-3224},
  doi       = {10.3389/fimmu.2021.817893},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-254345},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients often need immunosuppressive medication (IS) for disease control. If SSc is progressive despite IS, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) is a treatment option for selected SSc patients. aHSCT is effective with good available evidence, but not all patients achieve a treatment-free remission after aHSCT. Thus far, data about the need of IS after aHSCT in SSc is not published. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of IS after aHSCT, its efficacy, and the occurrence of severe adverse events (SAEs). Methods Twenty-seven patients with SSc who had undergone aHSCT were included in this single-center retrospective cohort study. Clinical data, including IS, SAEs, and lung function data, were collected. Results Sixteen of 27 (59.3\%) patients received IS after aHSCT. Methotrexate, rituximab, mycophenolate, cyclophosphamide, and hydroxychloroquine were most commonly used. The main reason for starting IS was SSc progress. Nine patients received rituximab after aHSCT and showed an improvement in modified Rodnan skin score and a stabilization of lung function 2 years after rituximab. SAEs in patients with IS after aHSCT (50.0\%) were not more common than in patients without IS (54.6\%). SAEs were mostly due to SSc progress, secondary autoimmune diseases, or infections. Two deaths after aHSCT were transplantation related and three during long-term follow-up due to pulmonary arterial hypertension. Conclusion Disease progression and secondary autoimmune diseases may necessitate IS after aHSCT in SSc. Rituximab seems to be an efficacious treatment option in this setting. Long-term data on the safety of aHSCT is reassuring.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WagnerDrouetTeschnerWolschkeetal.2021,
  author    = {Wagner-Drouet, Eva and Teschner, Daniel and Wolschke, Christine and Sch{\"a}fer-Eckart, Kerstin and G{\"a}rtner, Johannes and Mielke, Stephan and Schreder, Martin and Kobbe, Guido and Hilgendorf, Inken and Klein, Stefan and Verbeek, Mareike and Ditschkowski, Markus and Koch, Martina and Lindemann, Monika and Schmidt, Traudel and Rascle, Anne and Barabas, Sascha and Deml, Ludwig and Wagner, Ralf and Wolff, Daniel},
  title     = {Comparison of cytomegalovirus-specific immune cell response to proteins versus peptides using an IFN-γ ELISpot assay after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation},
  series = {Diagnostics},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {Diagnostics},
  number    = {2},
  issn      = {2075-4418},
  doi       = {10.3390/diagnostics11020312},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-228843},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Measuring CMV-specific cellular immunity may improve the risk stratification and management of patients. IFN-γ ELISpot assays, based on the stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with CMV pp65 and IE-1 proteins or peptides, have been validated in clinical settings. However, it remains unclear to which extend the T-cell response to synthetic peptides reflect that mediated by full-length proteins processed by antigen-presenting cells. We compared the stimulating ability of pp65 and IE-1 proteins and corresponding overlapping peptides in 16 HSCT recipients using a standardized IFN-γ ELISpot assay. Paired qualitative test results showed an overall 74.4\% concordance. Discordant results were mainly due to low-response tests, with one exception. One patient with early CMV reactivation and graft-versus-host disease, sustained CMV DNAemia and high CD8\(^+\) counts showed successive negative protein-based ELISpot results but a high and sustained response to IE-1 peptides. Our results suggest that the response to exogenous proteins, which involves their uptake and processing by antigen-presenting cells, more closely reflects the physiological response to CMV infection, while the response to exogenous peptides may lead to artificial in vitro T-cell responses, especially in strongly immunosuppressed patients.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{RiegerLissMellinghoffetal.2018,
  author    = {Rieger, C. T. and Liss, B. and Mellinghoff, S. and Buchheidt, D. and Cornely, O. A. and Egerer, G. and Heinz, W. J. and Hentrich, M. and Maschmeyer, G. and Mayer, K. and Sandherr, M. and Silling, G. and Ullmann, A. and Vehreschild, M. J. G. T. and von Lilienfeld-Toal, M. and Wolf, H. H. and Lehners, N.},
  title     = {Anti-infective vaccination strategies in patients with hematologic malignancies or solid tumors-Guideline of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO)},
  series = {Annals of Oncology},
  volume    = {29},
  journal   = {Annals of Oncology},
  number    = {6},
  doi       = {10.1093/annonc/mdy117},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-226196},
  pages     = {1354-1365},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Infectious complications are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with malignancies specifically when receiving anticancer treatments. Prevention of infection through vaccines is an important aspect of clinical care of cancer patients. Immunocompromising effects of the underlying disease as well as of antineoplastic therapies need to be considered when devising vaccination strategies. This guideline provides clinical recommendations on vaccine use in cancer patients including autologous stem cell transplant recipients, while allogeneic stem cell transplantation is subject of a separate guideline. The document was prepared by the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) by reviewing currently available data and applying evidence-based medicine criteria.},
  language  = {en}
}