LONG-TERM STABLE HEMATOPOIETIC CHIMERISM FOLLOWING MARROW TRANSPLANTATION FOR ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA - A CASE-REPORT WITH INVITRO MARROW CULTURE STUDIES

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 62  (4) , 869-872
Abstract
The course of an acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient in 2nd remission who received an allogeneic marrow graft from his HLA-identical sister is described. In the 2nd mo. after grafting, marrow aspirates showed the presence of 7-10% lymphoblasts. Cytogenetic examination indicated the persistence of host cells. Thereafter, the patient had morphologically normal marrow examinations, with no evidence for recurrent leukemia. Stable hematopoietic chimerism in the lymphoid and myeloid cell lines has persisted for > 5 yr. From 20-50% of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were host-derived on repeated studies. A marrow sample 4 yr after transplantation was established in long-term culture and produced 2% host granulocyte-macrophage colonies at its inception, but 24% host colonies by week 4. Despite this persistent chimerism, no in vitro or in vivo abnormalities of hematopoiesis were detected.