Transplant Advances

In recent years, and throughout the decades, evidence-based studies are showing how:

More patients can be treated

• Non-myeloablative preparative regimens (marrow.org) are allowing older patients and patients with co-morbidities to receive a hematopoietic cell transplant.
• Newer transplant trends (marrow.org), supported by on-going studies, show promising results for diseases that have not been traditionally treated with transplants.
  

A choice of cell source gives physicians more options 

• Hematopoietic cell source (marrow.org)—bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) or cord blood—is selected by the physician according to the patient's need.
  
  

More precise matching has improved outcomes

• Advances in HLA typing (marrow.org) have led to more precise matching, resulting in:
  • Improved patient survival
  • Reduced side effects, including graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)
  • Improved rates of engraftment
  
  

Management of post-transplant symptoms has improved 

• Preventive therapy for cytomegalovirus (CMV) (marrow.org) has significantly reduced post-transplant infection by:
  • Using blood products that are CMV seronegative
  • Routinely prescribing antiviral medication (ganciclovir) before transplant for certain patients 
  • Regular monitoring for CMV after transplant to detect and treat CMV early
• Improved management of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (marrow.org) includes:
  • Preventive measures (immunosuppresive medication and preparation of cells before transplant)
  • Early detection and treatment of acute and chronic GVHD
• Improved prevention and treatment of fungal infections (marrow.org)
  • Prevention, the best strategy, includes air filtering, special diets and medication.
  • Treatments are most effective when administered at the first sign of infection.