Stem cell transplantation in hematological disorders. A developing country experience-impact of cost considerations.

Objective: To describe the experience in setting up a bone marrow transplant program at Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Methods: Sixteen patients were transplanted at Ain Shams University Bone Marrow Transplantation unit from March 2005 to January 2008.

Results: Sixteen patients were transplanted with a median age of 25 years.

Results of imatinib mesylate therapy in chronic myelogenous leukaemia with variant Philadelphia chromosome.

Five to 10 per cent of patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) have variant translocations involving chromosomes other than 9 and 22. We investigated the characteristics and outcome of patients with variant translocations treated with imatinib. Among 721 patients, 44 (6%) had variant translocations, involving one (n = 39) or two (n = 4) additional chromosomes.