[Cord blood collection for potential stem cell transplantation to a family member: the long-term experience of a level-III maternity unit].

Background: Cord blood transplantation is used to treat patients with malignant and nonmalignant hematopoietic diseases. This study assessed the feasibility of collecting cord blood for eventual transplantation to a sibling with such a disease.

Methods: We studied the records of 47 infants from whom cord blood was collected for siblings from 1993 through 1999.

Results: During the study, cord blood was collected for 47 potential recipients: 37 (80.4%) with malignant disease and 9 (19.6%) with nonmalignant disease. Delivery was induced before 39 weeks of gestation. The mean volume collected was 107+/-39 mL and the number of nucleated cells was 11.52 x 10(8). Problems making collection difficult included: impossibility of collecting cord blood because of spontaneous delivery (n=1), the cytomegalovirus-positive serologic status of donor (n=7), and an inadequate number of nucleated cells (n=16). Weekday collection was possible for 60% of the donors. To date, only 7 of these cord blood collections have been used for stem cell transplantations.

Conclusion: This retrospective study demonstrates the practical difficulties in collecting cord blood for transplantation to siblings, difficulties that may decrease the likelihood of success.