Prolonged red cell aplasia after major ABO-incompatible allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: removal of persisting isohemagglutinins with Ig-Therasorb immunoadsorption

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2003 Nov;32(10):1015-9. doi: 10.1038/sj.bmt.1704264.

Abstract

Delayed donor red cell engraftment and prolonged red cell aplasia (PRCA) are well-recognized complications of major ABO-incompatible myeloablative and non-myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). There is an intense debate about the impact on outcome, severity of hemolysis, association with graft-versus-host disease and survival after blood group-incompatible stem cell transplantation. Therefore, therapeutic strategies should be considered to avoid these possible complications. We present five patients, who received allogeneic HSCT from human leukocyte antigen-identical donors for hematological malignancies, which were treated with Ig-Therasorb immunoadsorption (five treatments/week) to remove persisting incompatible isohemagglutinins. After a median of 17 treatments (range 9-25), all the patients became transfusion independent with the presentation of donor's blood group. No side effects occurred during treatment. Ig-Therasorb immunoadsorption seems to be a promising therapeutic method for rapid, efficient and safe elimination for persisting isohemagglutinins for patients with PRCA after allogeneic hematological stem cell transplantation.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • ABO Blood-Group System / immunology*
  • Adult
  • Blood Group Incompatibility*
  • Female
  • Hemagglutinins / isolation & purification*
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / complications
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods
  • Histocompatibility
  • Humans
  • Immunosorbent Techniques
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / etiology*
  • Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / therapy*
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • ABO Blood-Group System
  • Hemagglutinins