Bone marrow transplantation with unrelated volunteer donors

Bone marrow transplantation today

Today, bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is an established therapy. This statement is best verified by the number of BMTs performed. Between January 1990 and December 1992, 172 European teams in 26 countries carried out a total of 14,334 transplants. There were 6642 allogeneic transplants: 5513 BMT from an HLA-identical sibling donor, 370 from a non-identical family member, 88 from an identical twin donor and 671 from an unrelated volunteer donor. There were 7692 autologous transplants: 6577 autologous bone marrow, 777 peripheral-blood stem-cell and 338 combined bone-marrow and peripheral-blood stem-cell transplants. Indications were: leukaemias in 52% (7479), lymphoproliferative disorders in 29% (4125), solid tumours in 11% (1540), aplastic anaemia and thalassaemia in 3% (487) and inborn errors an miscellaneous disorders in the remaining 5% (703). The results of these transplants are not yet known. From previous analyses it can be expected that more than 50% of patients will be alive and well 10 years after BMT. The main factors influencing outcome are known; they depend on type, sub-type, stage of disease at time of transplant, the time from diagnosis to transplant and the conditioning regimen for all transplants. For allogeneic BMT, donor source, donor and recipient age, sex, donor/recipient sex combination, donor and recipient viral status, graft-versus-host disease prevention method and region are additional factors. Knowledge of these factors enables us today to estimate the potential risk and adjust the therapy for an individual patient.

Bone marrow transplantation in Europe: major geographical differences. The European Group for Bone Marrow Transplantation [EBMT]

In 1991 171 teams in 21 European countries performed 4976 bone marrow transplants. There were 1829 transplants from an HLA-identical sibling donor, 101 from a nonidentical family member, 30 from a twin, 217 from an unrelated volunteer donor and 2799 autologous transplants. Indications for transplants were leukaemias in 2569 (52%), lymphoproliferative disorders in 1472 (30%), solid tumours in 549 (11%), aplastic anaemia and thalassaemia in 261 (5%), inborn errors in 97 and miscellaneous disorders in 28 patients. There are marked differences between the participating European countries. They relate to absolute numbers, indications and techniques. Less than 10 transplants per 10-million inhabitants are performed in Eastern European countries. Ten to fifty transplants per 10-million inhabitants are done in two, 50-100 transplants per 10-million inhabitants in five, 100-200 transplants per 10-million inhabitants in eight countries and more than 200 per 10-million inhabitants in one country (P < 0.01). The number of transplant teams ranges from less than one to twelve per 10-million inhabitants (P < 0.01). For the continent it becomes 3.3 per 10-million inhabitants. The reasons for these differences are not explained by this survey. The most likely explanation for the differences in transplant activity is availability of transplant beds, trained staff and resources. Bone marrow transplants are expensive. However, the demand is increasing and will increase further with the routine availability of unrelated volunteer donors. Clearly, criteria are required in Europe to define the indications and solutions to meet the legitimate requirements for transplantation in the various regions of Europe.