The impact of peripheral blood stem cell transplants (PBSCT) on platelet usage

Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) are rapidly replacing bone marrow cells for autologous transplantation. This introduction, largely without randomized prospective trials, has occurred because of the ease of PBSC collection and the associated rapid haematological recovery with its lower costs and reduced blood product exposure. The administration of haematopoietic growth factors during recovery from high-dose chemotherapy increases the number of circulating haematopoietic progenitor cells to levels 1000-fold greater than levels normally found in blood. The CD34+ cell number, CFU-GM and CFU-Meg are commonly employed parameters used to assess the quality of PBSC harvests. This review examines the impact that PBSCT has had on haematological practice and patient care illustrated by our local practice in Cardiff.