Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Basic characteristics and safety of donation in related and unrelated haematopoietic progenitor cell donors – first 10 years of prospective donor follow-up of Swiss donors

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 57, pages 918–924 (2022)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Since July 2007 prospective life-long follow-up (FU) for unrelated (URD) and related donors (RD) is mandatory in Switzerland and data on every allogeneic haematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) donation are collected prospectively. We report the real-world experience of HPC donation during a 10-year study period (01.07.2007–30.06.2017) with basic characteristics and FU data. 1105 donors underwent 1155 HPC donation procedures. Eighty percent of first donations performed by 802 (73%) RDs and 303 (27%) URDs were peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC), 20% bone marrow (BM). Male donors were over-represented as URD (60% male vs 40% female). Main differences between RDs and URDs concerned age and pre-existing health disorders. RDs were significantly older at first donation (median age 48 years) compared to URD (34 years, p < 0.0001) and had more pre-existing health problems: 25% vs 9% in URD (p < 0.0001). No fatal complications occurred, collection related severe adverse events (SAE) after first donation were not significantly different between groups (RD 1.2%, URD 0.99%), incidence rates for neoplastic and autoimmune diseases did not exceed the rates of the general population. RDs are a more heterogeneous and potentially more vulnerable group, but if donor evaluation is performed appropriately, HPC donation is still safe.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: Number of related and unrelated donors at first donation of BM and PBSC by age.

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets supporting the conclusions of this article are included within the article and its additional files.

References

  1. Tiercy J-M. How to select the best available related or unrelated donor of hematopoietic stem cells? Haematologica. 2016;101:680–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Website: https://statistics.wmda.info/ accessed on Dec 16th, 2021

  3. Miller JP, Perry EH, Price TH, Bolan CD, Karanes C, Boyd TM, et al. Recovery and safety profiles of marrow and PBSC donors: experience of the national marrow donor program. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2008;14:29–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Halter J, Kodera Y, Ispizua AU, Greinix HT, Schmitz N, Favre G, et al. Severe events in donors after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell donation. Haematologica. 2009;94:94–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hölig K, Kramer M, Kroschinsky F, Bornhauser M, Mengling T, Schmidt AH, et al. Safety and efficacy of hematopoietic stem cell collection from mobilized peripheral blood in unrelated volunteers: 12 years of single-center experience in 3928 donors. Blood. 2009;114:3757–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Pulsipher MA, Chitphakdithai P, Logan BR, Shaw BE, Wingard JR, Lazarus HM, et al. Acute toxicities of unrelated bone marrow versus peripheral blood stem cell donation: results of a prospective trial from the National Marrow Donor Program. Blood. 2013;121:197–206.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Pulsipher MA, Chitphakdithai P, Miller JP, Logan BR, King RJ, Rizzo JD, et al. Adverse events among 2408 unrelated donors of peripheral blood stem cells: results of a prospective trial from the National Marrow Donor Program. Blood. 2009;113:3604–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kodera Y, Yamamoto K, Harada M, Morishima Y, Dohy H, Asano S, et al. PBSC collection from family donors in Japan: a prospective survey. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2014;49:195–200.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Shaw BE, Confer DL, Hwang W, Pulsipher MA. A review of the genetic and long-term effects of G-CSF injections in healthy donors: a reassuring lack of evidence for the development of haematological malignancies. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2015;50:334–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Szer J, Elmoazzen H, Fechter M, Hwang W, Korhonen M, Miller J, et al. Safety of living donation of hematopoietic stem cells. Transplantation. 2016;100:1329–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Burns LJ, Logan BR, Chitphakdithai P, Miller JP, Drexler R, Spellman S, et al. Recovery of unrelated donors of peripheral blood stem cells versus recovery of unrelated donors of bone marrow: a prespecified analysis from the phase III blood and marrow transplant clinical trials network protocol 0201. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2016;22:1108–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Schmidt AH, Mengling T, Hernández-Frederick CJ, Rall G, Pingel J, Schetelig J, et al. Retrospective analysis of 37,287 observation years after peripheral blood stem cell donation. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2017;23:1011–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kennedy GA, Morton J, Western R, Butler J, Daly J, Durrant S. Impact of stem cell donation modality on normal donor quality of life: a prospective randomized study. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2003;31:1033–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Shaw BE, Chapman J, Fechter M, Foeken L, Greinix H, Hwang W, et al. Towards a global system of vigilance and surveillance in unrelated donors of haematopoietic progenitor cells for transplantation. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2013;48:1506–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Favre G, Beksaç M, Bacigalupo A, Ruutu T, Nagler A, Gluckman E, et al. Differences between graft product and donor side effects following bone marrow or stem cell donation. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2003;32:873–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Martino M, Console G, Dattola A, Callea I, Messina G, Moscato T, et al. Short and long.-term safety of lenograstim administration in healthy peripheral haematopoietic progenitor cell donors: a single centre experience. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2009;44:163–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. De La Rubia J, de Arriba F, Arbona C, Pascual MJ, Zamora C, Insunza A, et al. Follow-up of healthy donors receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for peripheral blood progenitor cell mobilization and collection. Results of the Spanish Donor Registry. Haematologica. 2008;93:735–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Anderlini P, Champlin R. Biologic and molecular effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in healthy individuals: recent findings and current challenges. Blood. 2008;111:1767–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. O’Donnell PV, Pedersen TL, Confer DL, Rizzo JD, Pulsipher MA, Stroncek D, et al. Donor health and safety working committee from center for international blood and marrow transplant research (CIBMTR). Practice patterns for evaluation, consent, and care of related donors and recipients at hematopoietic cell transplantation centers in the United States. Blood. 2010;115:5097–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. van Walraven SM, Nicoloso-de Faveri G, Axdorph-Nygell UA, Douglas KW, Jones DA, Lee SJ, et al. WMDA Ethics and Clinical working groups. Family donor care management: principles and recommendations. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2010;45:1269–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Halter JP, van Walraven SM, Worel N, Bengtsson M, Hägglund H, Nicoloso de Faveri G, et al. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell donation—standardized assessment of donor outcome data: A consensus statement from the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (WBMT). Bone Marrow Transpl. 2013;48:220–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Pulsipher MA, Levine JE, Hayashi RJ, Chan KW, Anderson P, Duerst R, et al. Safety and efficacy of allogeneic PBSC collection in normal pediatric donors: the pediatric blood and marrow transplant consortium experience (PBMTC) 1996–2003. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2005;35:361–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Styczynski J, Balduzzi A, Gil L, Labopin M, Hamladji R-M, Marktel S, et al. Risk of complications during hematopoietic stem cell collection in pediatric sibling donors: a prospective European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Pediatric Diseases Working Party study. Blood. 2012;119:2935–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Bräuninger S, Thorausch K, Luxembourg B, Schulz M, Chow KU, Seifried E, et al. Deferral of volunteer stem cell donors referred for evaluation for matched-unrelated stem cell donation. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2014;49:1419–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Kim-Wanner SZ, Luxembourg B, Schmidt AH, Schäfer R, Möller N, Herbert E, et al. Introduction of principles of blood management to healthy donor bone marrow harvesting. Vox Sang. 2020;115:802–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Pulsipher MA, Chitphakdithai P, Logan BR, Navarro WH, Levine JE, Miller JP, et al. Lower risk for serious adverse events and no increased risk for cancer after PBSC vs BM donation. Blood. 2014;123:3655–63.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Pulsipher MA, Logan BR, Chitphakdithai P, Kiefer DM, Riches ML, Rizzo JD, et al. Effect of aging and predonation comorbidities on the related peripheral blood stem cell donor experience: report from the related donor safety study. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2019;25:699–711.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Passweg JR, Baldomero H, Bader P, Bonini C, Duarte RF, Dufour C, et al. Use of haploidentical stem cell transplantation continues to increase: the 2015 European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplant activity survey report. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2017;52:811–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Passweg JR, Baldomero H, Bader P, Basak GW, Bonini C, Duarte R, et al. Is the use of unrelated donor transplantation leveling off in Europe? The 2016 European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplant activity survey report. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2018;53:1139–48.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Anderlini P. Sixty as the new forty: considerations on older related stem cell donors. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2017;52:15–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Worel N, Buser A, Greinix HT, Hägglund H, Navarro W, Pulsipher MA, et al. Suitability criteria for adult related donors: a consensus statement from the worldwide network for blood and marrow transplantation standing committee on donor issues. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2015;21:2052–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Bitan M, van Walraven SM, Worel N, Ball LM, Styczynski J, Torrabadella M, et al. Determination of eligibility in related pediatric hematopoietic cell donors: ethical and clinical considerations. recommendations from a working group of the worldwide network for blood and marrow transplantation association. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2016;22:96–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Behfar M, Faghihi-Kashani S, Hosseini AS, Ghavamzadeh A, Hamidieh AA. Long-term safety of short-term administration of filgrastim (rhG-CSF) and leukophresis procedure in healthy children: application of peripheral blood stem cell collection in pediatric donors. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2018;24:866–70.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Pulsipher MA, Logan BR, Kiefer DM, Chitphakdithai P, Riches ML, Rizzo JD, et al. Higher risks of toxicity and incomplete recovery in 13- to 17-year-old females after marrow donation: RDSafe peds results. Biol Blood Marrow Transpl. 2019;25:955–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Switzer GE, Bruce J, Kiefer DM, Kobusingye H, Drexler R, Besser RM, et al. Health-related quality of life among pediatric hematopoietic stem cell donors. J Pediatrics. 2016;178:164–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Switzer GE, Bruce J, Kiefer DM, Kobusingye H, Drexler R, Besser RM, et al. Health-related quality of life among older related hematopoietic stem cell donors (>60 years) is equivalent to that of younger related donors (18 to 60 years): a related donor safety study. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2017;23:165–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. van Walraven SM, Straathof LM, Switzer GE, Lankester A, Korthof ET, Brand A, et al. Immediate and long-term somatic effects, and health-related quality of life of BM donation during early childhood. A single-center report in 210 pediatric donors. Bone Marrow Transpl. 2013;48:40–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Wiener L, Hoag JA, Pelletier W, Shah NN, Shaw BE, Pulsipher MA, et al. Transplant center practices for psychosocial assessment and management of pediatric hematopoietic stem cell donors. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2019;10:1.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Billen A, Madrigal JA, Shaw BE. A review of the haematopoietic stem cell donation experience: is there room for improvement? Bone Marrow Transpl. 2014;49:729–36.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Pulsipher MA, Brent LR, Kiefer DM, Chitphakdithai P, Riches ML, Rizzo JD, et al. Related peripheral blood stem cell donors experience more severe symptoms and less complete recovery at one year compared to unrelated donors. Haematologica. 2019;104:844–54.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swiss Blood Stem Cells, Swiss Transfusion SRC (Swiss Red Cross), Berne, Switzerland

    M. Rüesch, E. Buhrfeind, G. Nicoloso, J-M Tiercy, I. Widmer & L. Zurkinden

  2. Regional Blood Transfusion Service SRC, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland

    S. Amar el Dusouqui

  3. Regional Blood Transfusion Service SRC, Basel, Switzerland

    A. Buser, A. Holbro & L. Infanti

  4. Haematology Division, University Hospital, Geneva and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

    Y. Chalandon

  5. Regional Blood Transfusion Service SRC, Zürich, Switzerland

    B. M. Frey

  6. University Children’s Hospital, Zürich – Eleonore Foundation & Children’s Research Center (CRC), Zürich, Switzerland

    T. Güngör

  7. Haematology Division, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland

    S. Huguet

  8. Medical Oncology and Haematology, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland

    G. Nair & U. Schanz

  9. Haematology, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

    J. R. Passweg & J. P. Halter

  10. Haemato-Oncology, University Hospital for Children, Zürich, Switzerland

    U. Zeilhofer

Authors
  1. M. Rüesch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Amar el Dusouqui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Buhrfeind
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Buser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Y. Chalandon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. B. M. Frey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. T. Güngör
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. A. Holbro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. S. Huguet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. L. Infanti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. G. Nair
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. G. Nicoloso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. J. R. Passweg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. U. Schanz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. J-M Tiercy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. I. Widmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. U. Zeilhofer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  18. L. Zurkinden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  19. J. P. Halter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

SA, LI, AB, AH, BF performed donor assessments and contributed donor data. YCH, TG, SH, GN, JP, US, UZ performed RD FU and contributed FU data. IW, LZ administrate donor FU data at the registry. EB managed FU data and was liaison to ProMise. GN established/supervised FU at the registry and designed the study. GN, JMT reviewed the manuscript. JPH designed the study, performed statistical analysis and wrote the manuscript. MR analysed, interpreted data and wrote the manuscript. All authors contributed to data interpretation and the writing of the manuscript and approved the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Rüesch.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rüesch, M., Amar el Dusouqui, S., Buhrfeind, E. et al. Basic characteristics and safety of donation in related and unrelated haematopoietic progenitor cell donors – first 10 years of prospective donor follow-up of Swiss donors. Bone Marrow Transplant 57, 918–924 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-022-01656-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-022-01656-z

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links