Transplantation of unrelated placental blood cells in children with high-risk sickle cell disease

Long-term results of related myeloablative stem-cell transplantation to cure sickle cell disease

“…44 However, a recent review of experience in the United States, in which unrelated 4 HLAs out of 6 HLA-matched cord bloods were used, reports rather disappointing results in terms of GVHD and rejection rates. 45 Cord blood banking must therefore be encouraged in this setting to increase the possibility of finding a well-matched unrelated donor, which currently is very low. 46 Alternative donors such as HLAhaplomismatched family members, with T-cell depletion of the graft, 47 have been used in 5 children with a history of stroke and multiple alloimmunization, hindering the use of a transfusion program.…”

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Sickle Cell Disease: Current Practice and Emerging Trends

“…The poor outcomes of URD myeloablative cord transplantations (Table 2) suggest that new avenues of investigation are necessary. 51,52 URD cords have a high risk of rejection with RIT, and more intensity with RIT before cord transplantation is under evaluation for hemoglobinopathies at our and other centers. Cord cell dose is critical, and a cell dose of Ͼ 5 ϫ 10 5 CD34 cells/kg is recommended in nonmalignant disorders with a high rejection rate.…”

Clinical hemoglobinopathies: iron, lungs and new blood

“…Thus, it is possible that UCB might be utilized as an effective source of hematopoietic stem cells in hemoglobinopathies. The challenge of developing unrelated donor (URD) UCB transplantation for SCD was illustrated in a limited series of three patients [117]. These patients received UCB grafts in which four of six HLA-antigen matching was achieved.…”