Clinical evaluation of busulfan, cladribine and alemtuzumab as reduced intensity conditioning for stem cell transplantation.

Background: Reduced intensity conditioning before allogeneic stem cell transplantation is an option for patients not eligible for myeloablative standard procedure. In recent years alemtuzumab, an anti CD52 antibody has gained much interest in this setting for its particular immunosuppresive properties.


Material/methods: We evaluated clinical results of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in nine patients (2 females and 7 males, median age 51, range 26-65) after reduced intensity conditioning consisting of busulfan, cladribine and alemtuzumab.

Prevalence of the intron 22 inversion of the factor VIII gene and inhibitor development in Polish patients with severe hemophilia A.

Introduction: Patients with severe hemophilia A often develop inhibitors (antibodies) against transfused factor VIII.

Material/methods: One hundred thirteen Polish patients with severe hemophilia A, who had been treated on demand with cryoprecipitate until 1992 and exclusively with factor VIII concentrates after 1995, were examined for intron 22 inversion by Southern blotting and the presence and magnitude of inhibitor activity in blood as determined by the Bethesda assay. The patients' ages ranged 4--67 years (mean: 33.