Summary:We enrolled 25 patients with extensive, steroid-refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) in a prospective trial evaluating the efficacy of extracorporeal photophoresis (ECP) in both skin and visceral cGVHD. The median time from transplant to initiation of ECP was 790 days. ECP was administered for 2 consecutive days every 2 weeks in 17 patients and once a week in eight patients until best response or stable disease. The median duration of therapy was 9 months (range 3-24 months). In all, 20 patients had improvement in cutaneous GVHD and six had healing of oral ulcerations. Steroid sparing or discontinuation of immunosuppressive medications was possible in 80% of patients. Response rates were similar between patients receiving treatment weekly vs every 2 weeks and in patients commencing ECP less than vs greater than 18 months from transplant (70 vs 66%). When patients were stratified based on the Akpek prognostic score, there was no difference in overall response between the favorable (Akpek scoreo2.5) and unfavorable risk groups, but patients with progressive onset cGVHD tended to have a higher response than those with de novo onset. In summary, we report improvement in skin and/or visceral cGVHD in 71% overall and 61% of high-risk patients.

Background Geriatric adults represent an increasing proportion of emergency department (ED) users, and can be particularly vulnerable to acute illnesses. Health care providers have recently begun to focus upon the development of quality indicators to define a minimal standard of care. Objectives The original objective of this project was to develop additional ED-specific quality indicators for older patients within the domains of medication management, screening and prevention, and functional assessment, but the quantity and quality of evidence was insufficient to justify unequivocal minimal standards of care for these three domains. Accordingly, the authors modified the project objectives to identify key research opportunities within these three domains that can be used to develop quality indicators in the future. Methods Each domain was assigned one or two content experts who created potential quality indicators (QI) based on a systematic review of the literature, supplemented by expert opinion. Candidate quality indicators were then reviewed by four groups: the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Geriatric Task Force, the SAEM Geriatric Interest Group, and audiences at the 2008 SAEM Annual Meeting and the 2009 American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting, using anonymous audience response system technology as well as verbal and written feedback. Results High-quality evidence based on patient-oriented outcomes was insufficient or non-existent for all three domains. The participatory audiences did not reach a consensus on any of the proposed QIs. Key research questions for medication management (3), screening and prevention (2), and functional assessment (3) are presented based upon proposed QIs that the majority of participants accepted. Conclusions In assessing a minimal standard of care by which to systematically derive geriatric QIs for medication management, screening and prevention, and functional assessment, compelling clinical research evidence is lacking. Patient-oriented research questions that are essential to justify and characterize future quality indicators within these domains are described.