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Allografting

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in the developing world: experience from a center in India

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 27, pages 785–790 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

We describe our experience of setting up an allogeneic BMT program at the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore over a period of 13 years, from October 1986 to December 1999. Two hundred and twenty-one transplants were performed during this period in 214 patients, with seven patients undergoing second transplants. Indication for BMT were thalassemia major – 106 (48%), CML – 30, AML – 35, ALL – 10, SAA – 22, MDS – six and six for other miscellaneous disorders. The mean age of this patient cohort was 15.6 years (range 2–52). Graft-versus-host disease of grades III and IV was seen in 36 patients (17%) and this was the primary cause of death in 20 patients (9.2%). All patients and donors were CMV IgG positive. Sepsis was the primary cause of death in 16 patients (7.4%), 10 bacterial, four fungal and two viral. One hundred and ten of this series of patients are alive and disease free (50%) with a median follow-up of 24 months (range 2–116). These results are comparable to those achieved for patients with similar disease status in transplant units in the Western world and cost a mean of US$15 000. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 27, 785–790.

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Acknowledgements

This work would not have been possible without the active support of many departments in the institution: Clinical Pathology and Blood Bank, Microbiology, Virology, Biochemistry, General Surgery, Pediatric Surgery and Radiotherapy. The dedication and professionalism of the transplant nurses, registrars and laboratory faculty essential for the success of the program is gratefully acknowledged. We thank the Indian Council of Medical Research for supporting us with an Advanced Center for Bone Marrow Transplantation in thalassemia, Dr KF Bradstock (Westmead, Australia) and Dr William Vaughan (Alabama, US) for faculty training.

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  1. Department of Hematology, Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, India

    M Chandy, A Srivastava, D Dennison, V Mathews & B George

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  1. M Chandy
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  2. A Srivastava
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Chandy, M., Srivastava, A., Dennison, D. et al. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in the developing world: experience from a center in India. Bone Marrow Transplant 27, 785–790 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702869

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