1. ¹Department of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
2. ²Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
3. ³Department of Biotherapy, Hopital Necker, Paris, France
4. ⁴Department of Hematology/Oncology, Ibn-i Sina Hospital, Ankara University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey
5. ⁵Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, IRCCS 'G.Gaslini', Genoa, Italy
6. ⁶Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
7. ⁷Hematology division, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
8. ⁸Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
9. ⁹Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
10. ¹⁰Hematology Division, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
11. ¹¹Department of Hematology, BMT Unit, Hopital St Louis, Paris, France
12. ¹²Department Hematology, Careggi Hospital & University of Florence, Florence, Italy
13. ¹³Department of Internal Medicine, section of Hematology-Oncology, Maastricht, The Netherlands
14. ¹⁴Department of Hematology, AK St Georg, Hamburg, Germany
15. ¹⁵Clinical Hematology Division, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona Spain
16. ¹⁶Department of Haematology, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK

Correspondence: Professor P Ljungman, Department of Hematology, Karolinska University Hospital/Huddinge M54, Stockholm, S-14186, Sweden. E-mail: per.ljungman@medhs.ki.se

Received 20 July 2005; Revised 25 November 2005; Accepted 28 November 2005; Published online 30 January 2006.

Abstract

The Accreditation Subcommittee of the EBMT regularly publishes special reports on current practice of haemopoietic stem cell transplantation for haematological diseases, solid tumours and immune disorders in Europe. Major changes have occurred since the first report was published in 1996. Haemopoietic stem cell transplantation today includes grafting with allogeneic and autologous stem cells derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood and cord blood. With reduced intensity conditioning regimens in allogeneic transplantation, the age limit has increased, permitting the inclusion of older patients. New indications have emerged such as autoimmune disorders and AL amyloidosis for autologous, and solid tumours for allogeneic transplants. The introduction of alternative therapies has challenged well-established indications such as imatinib for chronic myeloid leukaemia. An updated report with revised tables and operating definitions is presented here.