Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Autoimmune-Related Retinopathy(ARRON)

ARRON is a disease believed to be due to immune cells, cells which normally protect the
body, but are now attacking the tissue in the retina and/or optic nerve. In addition, the
disease may affect the nerves in the ear or other parts of the body . The affected nerves
fail to respond, or respond only weakly, to stimuli causing numbing, tingling, pain, and
progressive muscle weakness. If the nerves to the ear are affected, reduced hearing or
deafness may result. The likelihood of progression of your disease is high. This study is
designed to examine whether treating patients with high dose cyclophosphamide and rabbit ATG
(drugs which reduce the function of the immune system) followed by return of previously
collected blood stem cells will stop the progression of ARRON syndrome. Stem cells are
undeveloped cells that have the capacity to grow into mature blood cells, which normally
circulate in the blood stream. The purpose of the cyclophosphamide and rabbit ATG is to
destroy the cells in the immune system which are thought to be causing this disease. The
purpose of the stem cell infusion is to restore the body's blood production, which will be
severely impaired by the high dose chemotherapy and to produce a normal immune system that
will no longer attack the body.