ABSTRACT
The potential role of intensive immunosuppression and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of severe autoimmune diseases has been evaluated for several years. A cure seems to be possible in some cases. “Resetting” of the immune system (rather than deletion of the auto-aggressive T-cell clones) seems to be the mechanism of action. Limiting severe or fatal organ damage and reducing high cumulative doses of conventionally administered immunosuppressive drugs are the major goals of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT). Data presented at an international meeting in Basel, Switzerland, in October 20001 and the data which are described in this book show high response rates in various autoimmune disease categories.
