Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a well-established curative treatment option for selected patients with hematologic and oncologic diseases. Acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) has remained a serious complication of HCT and is associated with high morbidity and mortality especially in patients not responding to first-line therapy with corticosteroids. So far, no standard for salvage therapy of acute corticosteroid-refractory GvHD has been established worldwide. Use of extracorporeal photopheresis results in high response rates, has a steroid-sparing effect and is associated with improved patients’ survival.
