Inclusion Criteria

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:

--Disease Characteristics--

Diagnosis of diffuse systemic sclerosis

Progressive disease Skin score at least 16 Interstitial or pulmonary vasculitis (FVC or
DLCO no greater than 70% predicted) with evidence of alveolitis by bronchoalveolar lavage
(BAL) Proteinuria (more than 500 mg/24 hours) Rapid deterioration in pulmonary function
(at least 15% decrease in FVC or DLCO within the past 6 months) or new evidence of
alveolitis by CT scan changes or BAL

No acute renal failure secondary to systemic sclerosis crisis

DLCO greater than 20% predicted

Ineligible for or refused autologous or allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell or bone
marrow transplantation

--Prior/Concurrent Therapy--

Endocrine therapy: Concurrent prednisone allowed if prior chronic use

Other: At least 4 days since prior immunosuppressive therapy

--Patient Characteristics--

Performance status: Karnofsky 50-100%

Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least
100,000/mm3

Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT less than 2.5
times ULN

Renal: See Disease Characteristics Creatinine clearance at least 35 mL/min No requirement
for renal dialysis

Cardiovascular: Ejection fraction greater than 45% No myocardial infarction within the
past 12 months No unstable angina No uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias No evidence of
congestive heart failure

Pulmonary: See Disease Characteristics

Other:

- Not pregnant

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- HIV negative

- No active uncontrolled infection

- No hypersensitivity to rabbit proteins

- No prior hemorrhagic cystitis requiring transfusion

- No concurrent active hemorrhagic cystitis by cystoscopy (if prior history)

- No concurrent malignancy