THE ROLE OF HEMAPHERESIS TECHNOLOGY IN ALLOGENEIC BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

In this paper the impact of hemapheresis technology on 238 allogeneic bone marrow transplants performed in Pescara from 1982 through 1993 is described. Granulocyte transfusions were limited to patients with neu trophil level <0.2x10(9)/L. An average of 4 units of packed red blood cells were required to maintain adequate hemoglobin levels. Patients w ith major ABO incompatibility showed an increased requirement of red b lood cell support as compared to patients ABO-matched and ABO minor mi smatched. For platelet support single-donor platelets collected on a b lood-cell separator were given. A total of 1548 platelet transfusions were examined. The median number of platelet transfusions for each pat ient was 5. Platelet refractoriness occurred in 44% of patients. The h emorrhage related mortality was 0.9%. The advancement made in the fiel d of hemapheresis technology, as well as the improved transplant techn ique, have contributed to increase the post-transplant survival from 1 7% in the early experience (1976-1982) to 88% in the recent years (199 2-1993).