Severe respiratory depression after dimethylsulphoxide-containing autologous stem cell infusion in a patient with AL amyloidosis

Adverse reactions with DMSO-cryopreserved stem cell infusion are well-recog nized. However, severe, life-threatening anaphylactic reactions with DMSO a re very rarely described in the literature. We report here a 58-year-old fe male with AL amyloidosis who developed an unexpected episode of respiratory arrest a few seconds after the beginning of thawed stem cell product infus ion. Fortunately, the patient was resuscitated successfully without the nee d for intubation. The prompt development of the reaction just a few seconds after the stem cell infusion convincingly implicates DMSO as the potential suspect. The presence of amyloid cardiomyopathy might have also contribute d to this adverse event.