https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9335-0653
I read with interest the paper by Jaimovich, Lazarus, and Gale, on ‘Challenges and opportunities for hematopoietic cell transplants in resource-poor countries’ [Citation1]. The authors clearly state that two major factors to make more available hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) for persons living in low- and middle-income countries are the outpatient conduction of the procedures and the use of non-frozen, non-thawed hematopoietic stem cells. To support these observations, they refer to an initial experience of our group, in which 46 patients were given an auto-HSCT and the procedure could be completed fully on an outpatient basis in 83% of transplants and employing non-frozen hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) [Citation2]. Since that experience, published 20 years ago [Citation2], we have increased the number of procedures and, up to now, we have given auto-HSCT on an outpatient basis to 1612 persons, the procedure being completed fully as outpatients in 1567(97%) [Citation3], and employing in all instances peripheral blood-derived non-frozen HSC [Citation3].
These data confirm our initial observations done 20 years ago [Citation2] and indicate that, as a result of gaining expertise, we are now able to avoid hospital admissions in over 97% of the persons given an auto-HSCT. Our data also confirm the usefulness of employing non-frozen HSC in the conduction of auto-HSCT; all these modifications to the conventional transplant schedules have resulted in availability of HSCT to a larger number of persons all over the world [Citation4].
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The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
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References
- Jaimovich G, Lazarus HM, Gale RP. Hematopoietic cell transplants in resource-poor countries: challenges and opportunities. Expert Rev Hematol. 2023 Mar;21:1–7. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36919565. DOI:10.1080/17474086.2023.2191946
- Ruiz-Argüelles GJ, Gómez-Rangel D, Ruiz-Delgado GJ, et al. Results of an autologous noncryopreserved, unmanipulated peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplant program: a single-institution, 10-year experience. PMID: 14663161 Acta Haematol. 2003;1104:179–183. DOI:10.1159/000074221
- Olivares-Gazca JC, Sánchez-Bonilla D, Fernández-Gutiérrez JA, et al. Patient-reported-outcomes and safety of autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple sclerosis: a single center experience with the “Mexican method” in 1300 persons. Blood. 2022;140(Supplement 1):1178–1179. DOI:10.1182/blood-2022-163740
- Ruiz-Argüelles GJ, Seber A, Ruiz-Delgado GJ. Conducting hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in low and middle income countries. Hematology. 2022 Dec;27(1):809–812. PMID: 35894853. DOI:10.1080/16078454.2022.2105513