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Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for severe aplastic anemia: similar long-term overall survival after transplantation with related donors compared to unrelated donors

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 51, pages 288–290 (2016)Cite this article

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Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a rare but serious hematologic disorder. The treatment of SAA is based on immunosuppressive therapy (IST) and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). In many centers, allogeneic HCT is recommended for patients younger than 50 years, if an HLA-identical sibling donor is available. For patients younger than 50 years who lack an HLA-identical sibling donor, IST based on cyclosporine and ATG is recommended as first-line treatment, and allogeneic HCT with an unrelated donor is recommended after failure to respond to IST.1 In patients older than 50 years, allogeneic HCT, even with an HLA-identical sibling as donor, is generally only recommended after failure of IST.

During the last two decades, the outcome of allogeneic HCT for SAA with an unrelated donor has improved significantly.2, 3, 4 Owing to the improved outcome of allogeneic HCT with unrelated donors, it is considered if this treatment should be given an increased role in the future treatment of children and young adults with SAA and no available HLA-identical sibling donor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology, National University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    B K Mortensen, N Jacobsen & H Sengeløv

  2. Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, National University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    C Heilmann

Authors
  1. B K Mortensen
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  2. N Jacobsen
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  3. C Heilmann
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  4. H Sengeløv
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Correspondence to B K Mortensen.

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Mortensen, B., Jacobsen, N., Heilmann, C. et al. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for severe aplastic anemia: similar long-term overall survival after transplantation with related donors compared to unrelated donors. Bone Marrow Transplant 51, 288–290 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2015.231

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