Objectives: Allogenic bone marrow transplantation is widely used to treat many diseases of the haemopoietic system as well as metabolic disorders. 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 test after bone marrow transplantation.
Methods: Twenty receivers of allogenic bone marrow transplants were followed-up. Two monoclonal minisatellite probes, MS31 and MS43, were used for comparison with the classical polymorphism 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.
Conclusions: The minisatellite probes MS31 and MS43 were found to be sensitive, effective tests for bone marrow transplants which can be used in routine follow-up.