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Allogeneic stem cell transplantation
ℹ️ About
- 🧬 Allogeneic stem cell transplantation = transfer of haematopoietic stem cells from a healthy donor to a patient
- ⚡ Usually performed after high-intensity chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to eradicate malignant cells and suppress the patient’s immune system
- 👨👩👧 Donors may be related (sibling) or unrelated volunteers
- 🧪 Requires HLA matching for best outcome
🌱 The Graft
- 🩸 Contains stem cells that are free of malignant cells
- 🛡️ Also includes immune effector cells – T lymphocytes and NK cells
⚔️ Graft Versus Malignancy Effect
- 🔥 Donor immune cells can attack residual malignant cells → graft-versus-leukaemia (GVL) or graft-versus-tumour (GVT) effect
- 🎗️ This immune response reduces relapse risk and improves long-term survival
- 💡 Important advantage of allogeneic over autologous transplantation
⚠️ Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD)
- 🚨 Donor lymphocytes may attack recipient tissues → skin, liver, gut most commonly affected
- 📈 GVHD risk increases with HLA mismatch between donor and recipient
- 🧬 Key HLA genes: chromosome 6 loci including HLA-DR, HLA-DP, HLA-DQ
- 👨👩 Sibling HLA match probability ≈ 25% (1 in 4); chance rises with larger family size
- 🌍 If no matched sibling: options include HLA-matched unrelated volunteer, partially matched haploidentical relative, or cord blood stem cells
📌 Exam Pearl: Allogeneic transplant provides a curative option in some haematological malignancies due to the GVL effect, but success is balanced by the risk of GVHD.
| The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms. |
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