High-dose Chemotherapy and Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Progressive Systemic Sclerosis: a Retrospective Study of Outcome and Prognostic Factors

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. SSc treatment is still challenging, and evidence is scarce. In the last decades high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HD-ASCT) has proven to be effective. However, treatment related morbidity and mortality (TRM) are high. We conducted a retrospective, single-center analysis of SSc patients following HD-ASCT focusing on TRM and risk factors. 32 patients who underwent HD-ASCT at our hospital between June 2000 and September 2020 were included. Clinical characteristics were evaluated based on chart review before and after HD-ASCT. Analyses focused on overall survival (OS), TRM, and response to HD-ASCT. Median OS was 81 months (range 0–243). Within one year, 20 of 32 (76.9