Ever since its first introduction by Richard Edelson in the early 1980s of the 20th century, extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has been more and more used nowadays in different clinical conditions. Today, not only inline systems as in the very beginning but also offline technologies are used with an excellent safety profile. Its application as a treatment option is not limited to the early indications such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma but has extended to various diseases caused by an involvement of the immune system mainly in dermatology, solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The American Society of Apheresis has listed ECP for several indications in their latest guidelines, and also the German Society for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology published a recommendation on the use of ECP. In this issue of Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy with a special focus on ECP, we are happy to be able to have manuscripts from experts in the field (original research articles and review articles) which give an excellent overview over the technology and its use in different diseases. In an original research article, Helmberg et al. [1] report on the differences in cell composition and induction of apoptosis between offline und inline procedures, discussing a yet unsolved debate between users of either approach. Drexler et al. [2] report on the use of ECP in graftversus-host disease (GvHD). Today, ECP is a well-established treatment option in chronic GvHD, but data for its use in acute GvHD are not yet so robust. This review gives a very comprehensive overview of ECP used in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation experiencing steroid refractory GvHD. Benazzo et al. [3] describe in their original research article the outcome of lung transplant recipients given ECP as an add-on therapy for antibody-mediated rejection. In this large single-center retrospective analysis covering consecutive lung transplant recipients from 2010 to the end of 2019, ECP reduces de novo donor-specific antibodies and is able to restore pulmonary function in up to 50% of patients. In a very comprehensive review, Vieyra-Garcia and Wolf [4] give an excellent overview on ECP as immunotherapy. Even though they state that the exact mechanisms of how ECP works are not yet fully understood, they give an excellent overview of the changes induced in the immune system when using ECP. Taken all together, the editors are convinced that with the fine work by the authors the reader will find this issue of Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy of benefit both scientifically and practically in supporting their patients.

中文翻译：

---

体外光疗


自从理查德·埃德尔森 (Richard Edelson) 在 20 世纪 80 年代初首次提出以来，体外光采术 (ECP) 如今已越来越多地应用于不同的临床情况。如今，不仅使用了最初的内联系统，还使用了具有出色安全性的离线技术。其作为治疗选择的应用不仅限于皮肤T细胞淋巴瘤等早期适应症，而且已扩展到主要在皮肤科、实体器官和造血干细胞移植等免疫系统参与引起的各种疾病。美国单采协会在其最新指南中列出了 ECP 的多种适应症，德国输血医学和免疫血液学协会也发表了关于 ECP 使用的建议。在本期《输血医学和血液治疗》中，特别关注 ECP，我们很高兴能够收到该领域专家的手稿（原始研究文章和评论文章），这些手稿对该技术及其在不同领域的应用进行了出色的概述。疾病。在一篇原创研究文章中，Helmberg 等人。 [1] 报告了离线和在线程序之间细胞组成和细胞凋亡诱导的差异，讨论了两种方法的使用者之间尚未解决的争论。德雷克斯勒等人。 [2] 关于 ECP 在移植物抗宿主病 (GvHD) 中的应用的报告。如今，ECP 是慢性 GvHD 的一种成熟的治疗选择，但其用于急性 GvHD 的数据尚不那么可靠。这篇综述对异基因造血干细胞移植后经历类固醇难治性 GvHD 的患者使用 ECP 进行了非常全面的概述。贝纳佐等人。 [3] 在他们的原始研究文章中描述了肺移植受者接受 ECP 作为抗体介导排斥的附加疗法的结果。在这项涵盖 2010 年至 2019 年底连续肺移植受者的大型单中心回顾性分析中，ECP 减少了从头供体特异性抗体，并能够恢复高达 50% 患者的肺功能。在一篇非常全面的综述中，Vieyra-Garcia 和 Wolf [4] 对 ECP 作为免疫疗法进行了精彩的概述。尽管他们指出 ECP 工作的确切机制尚未完全了解，但他们很好地概述了使用 ECP 时免疫系统引起的变化。总而言之，编辑们相信，通过作者的出色工作，读者会发现本期《输血医学和血液疗法》在科学和实践上都有益于支持患者。