Immunological recovery after bone marrow transplantation for severe aplastic anaemia: A Brazilian experience

Abstract

Twenty‐nine patients with severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) were submitted to bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and their immunological recovery analysed. Total lymphocyte counts, estimation of B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes and their subsets, natural‐killer (NK) activity were performed. Cells with the CD8 + phenotype and NK activity were the first signs of immunological recovery, whereas the CD4 + subset recovered later in patients who suffered from acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) and infections. Acute and chronic GvHD, cirrhosis, rejection and HIV viral infection contributed to the persistence of the profound immunodeficiency status observed after BMT. Our results did not differ greatly from the others and confirmed that BMT may be performed in underdeveloped countries despite the difficulties it might pose.

First case of successful allogeneic stem cell transplantation in an HIV-patient who acquired severe Aplastic Anemia

“…3 Interestingly, in an analysis of 29 patients with aplastic anemia from Brasil who received BMT, HIV infection was described as a major factor associated with poor immunological recovery. 4 Another report describes a 26 year-old patient who had AIDS and underwent allogeneic BMT apparently with the intention of treating HIV. 5 He died 48 days later due to hepatorenal failure.…”