METHODS
We describe our experience with using abatacept (Aba) as GVHD
prophylaxis in four pediatric patients who received haplo-HCT. Our study
was approved by the institutional Research Ethics Board. We conducted a
retrospective chart review on all children who received a haploidentical
HCT at The Hospital for Sick Children (Sickkids) in Toronto, Canada
between January 2015 and July 2020.
Inclusion criteria consisted of: (a) age <18 years at time of
transplantation, (b) recipient of a peripheral blood stem cell graft
from HLA haploidentical donors (c) received non PTCy GVHD prophylaxis,
and (d) may have malignant or non-malignant disorder. All patients who
met the inclusion criteria have had at least 180 day follow up
post-transplant at the time of this report. There were five recipients
who were eligible for inclusion in this cohort. One patient was excluded
from analysis to avoid confounding the outcome as the patient had also
received immunosuppression with etanercept as part of the treatment for
underlying disease.