1. ¹Alberta Bone Marrow Transplant Program and Departments of Medicine, Nursing and Epidemiology, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2. ²Alberta Bone Marrow Transplant Program and Departments of Medicine and Nursing, Foothills Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Correspondence: Dr JA Russell, Department of Medicine, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331-29th St. NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N2. E-mail: jamesrus@cancerboard.ab.ca

Received 9 April 2003; Accepted 15 October 2003; Published online 2 February 2004.

Abstract

This prospective study compared the donor experience of blood cell (BC) mobilization and leukapheresis (n=116) with that of bone marrow (BM) harvest (n=55). Internal jugular catheters were inserted electively in 89% of BC donors. Most (80%) BM donors had a harvest with general anesthesia; 20% had epidural or spinal anesthesia. Pain and fatigue were frequent with both procedures and were compared in responses to questionnaires. A total of 85% of BM donors reported moderate or severe pain compared with 68% of BC donors (P=0.02). The median duration of pain was 14 days for BM donors compared with 3 days after BC mobilization (P<0.0001). More BM donors had pain for more than 7 days (75% vs 0%, P<0.0001). Severe fatigue was experienced by more BM donors (49 vs 16%, P<0.0001). Fatigue lasted significantly longer in BM donors (median 11 vs 4 days, P<0.0001) and more BM donors were fatigued for more than 1 week (69 vs 0%, P<0.0001). A total of 11 donors had both BM and BC collection; seven preferred the latter. Simply considered with respect to pain and fatigue, BC donation appears better tolerated by donors. However, there are other sequelae of both influencing the acceptability for individual donors.