FOLLOW-UP OF BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION USING MINISATELLITE MS-31 AND MS-43 PROBES - COMPARISON WITH CHROMOSOMAL-POLYMORPHISM DATA

Objectives: Allogenic bone marrow transplantation is widely used to tr eat many diseases of the haemopoietic system as well as metabolic diso rders. Follow-up is essential to assess acceptance, rejection or post- graft relapse. This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of the minisatellite probes MS31 and MS43 used as a routine follow-up te st after bone marrow transplantation. Methods: Twenty receivers of all ogenic bone marrow transplants were followed-up. Two monoclonal minisa tellite probes, MS31 and MS43, were used for comparison with the class ical polymerphism methods. Results: Fourteen cases of total chimeras, 3 cases of rejections and 3 cases of mixed chimeras were observed with the molecular probe techniques. In 19 of the 20 cases, this technique gave results compatible with classical polymorphism results. Conclusi ons: The minisatellite probes MS31 and MS43 were found to be sensitive , effective tests for bone marrow transplants which can be used in rou tine follow-up.