Allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is a medical procedure in which a patient receives stem cells from a genetically similar, but not identical, donor. This type of transplantation is primarily used to treat certain types of cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, as well as other blood disorders. The procedure involves replacing the patient's diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells from the donor, which can then produce new blood cells.

Procedure

The process of allogeneic stem cell transplantation involves several key steps:

Donor Selection

The first step is to find a suitable donor. The best donors are usually siblings who have a compatible human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type. If a sibling match is not available, unrelated donors from registries or partially matched family members may be considered.

Conditioning Regimen

Before the transplant, the patient undergoes a conditioning regimen, which may include chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. This regimen serves to destroy the diseased bone marrow and suppress the immune system to prevent rejection of the donor cells.

Stem Cell Collection

Stem cells are collected from the donor's blood or bone marrow. Peripheral blood stem cell collection is more common and involves mobilizing stem cells into the bloodstream using growth factors, followed by apheresis to collect them.

Transplantation

The collected stem cells are infused into the patient's bloodstream. The cells travel to the bone marrow, where they begin to grow and produce new blood cells.

Engraftment and Recovery

Engraftment is the process by which the transplanted stem cells begin to produce new blood cells. This typically occurs within 2 to 4 weeks after transplantation. During this time, the patient is closely monitored for complications such as infections, bleeding, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

Complications

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation carries several risks and potential complications:

• Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD): This occurs when the donor's immune cells attack the recipient's tissues. GVHD can be acute or chronic and may affect various organs.
• Infections: Due to the immunosuppressive conditioning regimen, patients are at increased risk of infections until their immune system recovers.
• Graft failure: This is when the donor stem cells do not engraft properly, leading to a lack of blood cell production.

Outcomes

The success of allogeneic stem cell transplantation depends on several factors, including the underlying disease, the patient's condition, and the degree of HLA matching between donor and recipient. Advances in transplantation techniques and supportive care have improved outcomes over the years.

Also see

• Autologous stem cell transplantation
• Bone marrow transplantation
• Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
• Graft-versus-host disease
• Leukemia

Resources

Latest articles - Allogeneic stem cell transplantation

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Source: Data courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Since the data might have changed, please query MeSH on Allogeneic stem cell transplantation for any updates.

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