Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with β-thalassemia: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre Experience

Abstract

From January 1998–July 2006, 62 stem cell transplantation (SCT) were performed on 60 patients with β-thalassemia from HLA-related match donors. The overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) for all patients were 94 and 77%. The outcome of allogeneic SCT in our experience is satisfactory with OS 92% and EFS 77%. Transplantation at a young age and when the disease is mild offers the best outcome. More advanced disease is associated with higher rate of rejection and severe graft versus host disease.

Keywords:

• Thalassaemia
• Stem cell transplantation