Bone marrow transplantation in children: the king faisal specialist hospital experience.

ABSTRACT

The results of the Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program at The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH & RC) from June 1993 to October 1995 were reviewed for a preliminary report on the outcome of children undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT) particularly in relation to mortality and morbidity. A total of 64 bone marrow transplants were performed on 60 patients during this period of time. The study patients included 28 with acute leukemia, 10 with severe combined immune deficiency, five with chronic myeloid leukemia, four with Fanconi's anemia and 13 others with miscellaneous disorders. The average hospitalization period was six weeks per patient. Forty three of these patients (72%) were alive and disease-free after a median follow-up of 14 months (range 1-27 months). Eight patients died from transplant-related toxicity within 100 days of BMT. One patient died of chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) of the liver. Eight patients with acute leukemia relapsed within one year after BMT. Further details regarding the preparative regimens, toxicity of BMT, GVHD and disease-free survival are reviewed in this report.