Appendicitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Appendicitis, including details on symptoms, surgery, causes, treatment.

Stem cell transplantation for polycythemia vera.

Reinhard H, Klingebiel T, Lang P, Bader P, Niethammer D, Graf N

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany.

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a rare disease in children. A 9-year-old male was diagnosed following laboratory results acquired because of an acute appendicitis. Regular phlebotomy was performed for over 2 years followed by alpha-interferon treatment. At the age of 12 years, HLA-matched unrelated stem cell transplantation including T-cell depletion was done. The conditioning regimen consisted of busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and ATG. Chimerism was monitored during the whole post-transplant period. A single dose of donor T-lymphocytes was given at month 3. One year after transplantation, chimerism was complete. The patient is in complete remission and shows no signs of transplant-related morbidity at month 78.

Published 26 November 2007 in Pediatr Blood Cancer, 50(1): 124-6.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Appendicitis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.