FAQ

Older female patient smiling with an older male healthcare professional

How many ECP treatments will I need?

The number of sessions you will need depends on the disease being treated, your symptoms and your response to treatment
Your doctor will decide on the number of treatments suitable for you

How long will it take to start working?

It is not possible to predict how well and when you will respond to ECP because it is different for every patient
The length of time it takes to respond to treatment depends on the state of your immune system, the severity of your disease and how often you receive treatment
Improvement may happen gradually, so it is important that you don’t give up or feel discouraged if you don’t see results straight away

Will ECP treatment be painful?

You may feel pain at the injection site when the IV line is inserted into your arm – if you are worried about this, ask your healthcare professional about ways that may potentially lessen the discomfort
During ECP you may sometimes feel different sensations that are not painful

What are the side effects of ECP treatment

A slight pulsing from the treatment
A slight chill or cold feeling where your blood is returned to your body
Dizziness or weakness, which may be signs of low blood pressure – your doctor or nurse will monitor you during treatment for low blood pressure
Pain at the injection site
Low levels of red blood cells may cause tiredness

Other possible side effects such as fever or skin redness at the injection site usually go away within a day. For further information on ECP side effects, please read the Important Safety Information here or talk to your doctor.

If you have any other questions regarding your treatment, please consult your healthcare provider.

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The information provided in this website should not be used as a substitute for medical advice from a healthcare professional.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR THE THERAKOS™ PHOTOPHERESIS PROCEDURE

Indications

The THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ Photopheresis System is indicated for patients older than 18 years of age for the administration of photopheresis in the following:

Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma (CTCL)
Solid Organ Transplant Rejection (SOT) (heart, lung)

The THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ Photopheresis System is indicated in patients older than 3 years of age for the management of:

Acute and Chronic Graft versus Host Disease (aGvHD, cGvHD)

Contraindications

THERAKOS^TM Photopheresis is contraindicated in:

Patients possessing a specific history of a light sensitive disease
Patients who cannot tolerate extracorporeal volume loss or who have white blood cell counts greater than 25,000 / mm³
Patients who have coagulation disorders or who have previously had a splenectomy

Warnings and Precautions

THERAKOS^TMPhotopheresis treatments should always be performed in locations where standard medical emergency equipment is available. Volume replacement fluids and/or volume expanders should be readily available throughout the procedure.

Do not expose the device to a magnetic resonance (MR) environment. The device may present a risk of projectile injury, and thermal injury and burns may occur. The device may generate artifacts in the MR image, or may not function properly.
Thromboembolic events, including pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, have been reported in the treatment of Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD). Special attention to adequate anticoagulation is advised when treating patients with GvHD.
When prescribing and administering THERAKOS Photopheresis for patients receiving concomitant therapy, exercise caution when changing treatment schedules to avoid increased disease activity that may be caused by abrupt withdrawal of previous therapy.

Adverse Events

Hypotension may occur during any treatment involving extracorporeal circulation. Closely monitor the patient during the entire treatment for hypotension.
Transient pyretic reactions, 37.7–38.9°C (100–102°F), have been observed in some patients within six to eight hours of reinfusion of the photoactivated leukocyte-enriched blood. A temporary increase in erythroderma may accompany the pyretic reaction.
Treatment frequency exceeding labelling recommendations may result in anaemia.
Venous access carries a small risk of infection and pain.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR METHOXSALEN USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THERAKOS^TM PHOTOPHERESIS

Consult the 8-methoxypsoralen (Methoxsalen (20 micrograms / mL)) professional leaflet or the oral 8-methoxypsoralen formulation package insert before prescribing or dispensing any medication.

Warnings and Precautions

Patients exhibiting multiple basal cell carcinomas or having a history of basal cell carcinoma should be diligently observed and treated.
Methoxsalen may cause fetal harm when given to a pregnant woman. Women undergoing photopheresis should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant.
Special care should be exercised in treating patients who are receiving concomitant therapy (either topically or systemically) with known photosensitizing agents.
Oral administration of methoxsalen followed by cutaneous UVA exposure (PUVA therapy) is carcinogenic.
Patients should be told emphatically to wear UVA absorbing, wrap-around sunglasses for twenty-four (24) hours after methoxsalen treatment. They should wear these glasses any time they are exposed to direct or indirect sunlight, whether they are outdoors or exposed through a window.

Refer to the package insert for methoxsalen sterile solution (20 micrograms / mL) or the oral 8-methoxypsoralen dosage formulation for a list of all warnings and precautions.

FAQ

How many ECP treatments will I need?

How long will it take to start working?

Will ECP treatment be painful?

What are the side effects of ECP treatment

If you have any other questions regarding your treatment, please consult your healthcare provider.

Discover more

What is extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP)?

How does extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) work?

What do I need to know before starting treatment?

Patient stories

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR THE THERAKOS™ PHOTOPHERESIS PROCEDURE

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR METHOXSALEN USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THERAKOSTM PHOTOPHERESIS

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR METHOXSALEN USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THERAKOS^TM PHOTOPHERESIS