Irradiation and Marrow Infusion in Leukemia

Abstract

Intravenous infusion of fresh or glycerolfrozen marrow has shown promise in the treatment of the aplasia of marrow that follows radiation exposure or chemotherapy.^1,2 In this hospital infusions of marrow from volunteers, fetuses, or cadavers have been used in efforts to restore marrow function in leukemic patients who have been treated by irradiation.^3-5 In our first year of study, patients received whole-body exposure to air doses of 100 to 600 roentgens.⁶ In the second year the irradiation was increased to 600 to 1,200 roentgens,^7-9 and in the last 2 years the exposure has been increased to 1,200 to 2,000 roentgens. This report describes clinical and laboratory observations in 5 patients with acute leukemia following treatment by continuous whole-body exposures of 1,400 to 2,000 roentgens. Methods Isolation Precautions.— On admission to the hospital all patients were placed in isolation. The isolation unit consisted of the patient's room