EXPERIENCE WITH A COOPERATIVE BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION PROGRAM IN STOCKHOLM

Abstract

Patients (27, ages 1-55 yr) were included in a cooperative bone marrow transplantation program in Stockholm. Of 8 patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA), 2 died following graft rejection and 6 (75%) were alive between 3 mo. and 4 1/2 yr after transplantation. Two patients with end stage leukemia died of septicemia and bleeding shortly after transplantation. Of 17 patients with acute leukemia in their 1st or 2nd remission, 13 (76%) were alive 1-16 mo. after transplantation. Death was caused by septicemia in 2 patients, interstitial Candida pneumonitis in 1 and gastrointestinal bleeding in association with graft-vs.-host disease in 1. Among the leukemic patients, all deaths occurred in subjects > 17 yr of age and all 10 children were alive. No relapse has yet been seen. Successful bone marrow transplantations were carried out with ordinary hospital resources only. This justifies the practice of performing transplantations in subjects with SAA and acute leukemia in remission even outside specially equipped and designed bone marrow transplantation units.