FRACTIONATED INFUSIONS OF CRYOPRESERVED STEM-CELLS MAY PREVENT DMSO-INDUCED MAJOR CARDIAC COMPLICATIONS IN GRAFT RECIPIENTS

The amount of transfused dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is indicated as the major cause of the cryoprotectant-related toxicity in autologous stem cell recipients, with a high incidence of major cardiac side effects. In this study we tried to discover whether fractionated infusion of t he total graft volume could prevent the DMSO-related major cardiovascu lar side effects. We conclude that continuous cardiac monitoring durin g and after fractionated infusions of DMSO-containing graft documented no major arrhythmias, with only seven episodes of asymptomatic sinus bradycardia.