Graft failure affects approximately 5% of allogeneic stem cell transplants, with a poor prognosis. Salvage second allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT2) is limited by high rates of transplant-related mortality from infection and graft-versus-host disease. We report on five adult patients receiving rescue alloSCT2 using haploidentical peripheral blood stem cells. All patients achieved neutrophil engraftment, two subsequently died from sepsis and disease relapse, respectively. Three patients remain alive up to 2 years post-transplant. We suggest consideration of haploidentical alloSCT2 for patients with graft failure.
Keywords: allogeneic stem cell transplant; graft failure; graft-versus-host disease; haploidentical transplant; peripheral blood stem cells.
© 2018 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.