Table 2.

Inclusion criteria for HCS transplantation in various autoimmune diseases

Disease/
general
principles	Criteria
General	Failed best available conventional therapy
	Progressive disease, poor prognosis (for life or organ)
	Reasonable quality of life if autoimmune disease activity
	were arrested
	<60 years old
	Able to withstand HSC transplantation (especially
	cyclophosphamide 4 g/m2)
SSc	Diffuse skin disease for <3 years and progressive plus
	other organ involvement
	Modified Rodnan >16 (max 51)
	Diffuse skin disease for >3 years or limited skin and vital
	organ involvement (threatening)
	Mean PAP <50 mmHg, DLCO >45% predicted
	LVEF >50% of normal (on echo), >45% MUGA
	Controlled arrhythmias
	Hypertension controlled by ACE inhibitors
	Serum creatinine <1.5 times normal upper limit
RA	Failed: two DMARDS (including methotrexate) + any
	combination of DMARDS + anti-TNF regimen
	Progressive destruction
	Disease duration 2-10 years
MS	Disease duration ≥ 1 year
	EDSS between 3.0 and 6.5
	Disability progression sustained for at least 6 months
	during the previous 2 years of:
	≥ 1.5 EDSS points if entry EDSS between 3.0 and 5.0
	≥ 1.0 EDSS point if entry EDSS ≥ 5.5
	Primary or secondary progressive MS
	Clinical or MRI activity during the past year

ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; DLCO, lung diffusion capacity; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; EDSS, extended disability score system; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; MUGA, multigated image acquisition; PAP, pulmonary artery pressure; TNF, tumour necrosis factor.