Case Report

Twenty-year Remission of Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2 Patients After Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant

RAY M. LOWENTHAL, HILTON FRANCIS, and DEVINDER S. GILL

ABSTRACT.

We describe 21 and 19 year followup of 2 patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who in 1984 and 1986 underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) after full myeloablative conditioning, for therapy-induced aplastic anemia. Regarding the arthritis, both patients are well, taking no medications, and free of signs or symptoms of active RA. One patient is in excellent health overall, while the other has coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease attributable to smoking. We suggest that allogeneic BMT may be a curative treatment for severe RA. (J Rheumatol 2006;33:812–3)

 

Key Indexing Terms:

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION
HEMOPOIETIC STEM CELLS
GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST DISEASE

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From the Department of Medicine, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania; and Department of Haematology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

R.M. Lowenthal, MD, FRCP, FRACP, Director of Medical Oncology, Royal Hobart Hospital, Clinical Professor, University of Tasmania; H. Francis, FRACP, Consultant Rheumatologist, Royal Hobart Hospital; D.S. Gill, MRCP, FRCPath, Director of Clinical Haematology, Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Address reprint requests to Prof. R. Lowenthal, Department of Haematology/Oncology, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7000. E-mail: r.m.Lowenthal@utas.edu.au

Accepted for publication November 25, 2005.

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