PBSC collection from G-CSF primed donors.

Peripheral blood stems cells (PBSCs) have been used in autologous transplantation as an alternative to bone marrow-derived cells. Recently, PBSCs have been collected from healthy donors after priming with G-CSF and used for allogeneic transplantation. We have a comparatively large experience with PBSC collection in autologous and allogeneic settings.

The Fresenius continuous autotransfusion system (CATS): preliminary studies and application.

A new CFC apparatus for intraoperative blood salvage (CATS) has been introduced by Fresenius and submitted to preliminary evaluation at our hemapheresis unit. The volume of shed blood submitted to washing was 1714 +/- 496 with a hematocrit of 19% and the volume of PRBC ready for transfusion 297.9 ml with hematocrit of 64.

High-dose chemo-radiotherapy followed by autologous Philadelphia chromosome-negative blood progenitor cell transplantation in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Twenty-three patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in early chronic phase (ECP) and not previously treated with alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha) (10 patients), in ECP but pretreated with IFN-alpha (<12 months) (seven patients) and in late chronic phase (LCP) pretreated with IFN-alpha (>12 months) (six patients) underwent autografting with Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome-negative blood progenitor cells (BPCs) (20 patients), or partially/totally Ph-positive BPCs (three patients), previously mobilized during the early phase of recovery after aplasia induced by intensive chemotherapy. The conditioning regimen consisted of high-dose chemotherapy alone or followed by total body irradiation (TBI). Recombinant G-CSF was given after BPCs infusion on day +8.

Secondary acute promyelocytic leukemia. Characteristics and prognosis of 14 patients from a single institution.

The aims of this study were to analyze the characteristics and outcome of patients with secondary acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and compare them to those with primary APL. One hundred and thirteen patients referred to our service with a diagnosis of APL were reviewed. Fourteen were classified as secondary APL.