Table 1.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria for autologous stem-cell transplantation in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Inclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

(1) The diagnostic criteria for SLE are fulfilled based on the ACR guidelines (2) Type III or IV glomerulonephritis based on the WHO classification cannot be controlled by short-term treatment with cyclophosphamide (3) Lung and/or cardiac parenchymal destruction due to histologically proven vasculitis, if not improving to IV cyclophosphamide (4) Encephalitis or myelitis transversa, if not improving to IV cyclophosphamide (5) Severe refractory autoimmune cytopenia, if refractory to standard-dose treatment (6) Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome

(1) Absolute neutrophil counts <2000/μL (2) Platelet counts <120000/μL (3) Age over 70 years (4) Serum creatinine level is over 3,0 mg/dL (5) Ejection fraction is below 45% by echocardiography, malignant arrhythmia, and NYHA stage IV cardiac failure (6) Accompanying malignant disease (7) Infection (8) Respiratory failure (9) Deterioration of liver functions

Abbreviations: ACR: American College of Rheumatology, WHO: World Health Organization, NYHA: New York Heart Association.