Bone marrow transplantation in adolescents

This paper reviews bone marrow transplantation in adolescents. The primary indications for bone marrow transplantation are malignancies, usually relapsed lymphomas or acute/chronic leukemias. Autologous bone marrow transplantation is used as a high-dose consolidation therapy in some solid tumor patients with varied success. Peripheral blood stem cells are a feasible source of autologous stem cells in adolescents. The process of stem cell transplantation and the complications are the same in adolescents as in younger children and adults. Adolescents face the same biologic barriers to allogeneic transplant (minimal residual disease, availability of donor), but may also face more problems with their insurance status. The psychological and social aspects of bone marrow transplantation during adolescence are unique to their developmental stage. With appropriate medical, nursing, and psychosocial support, bone marrow transplantation offers cure for the adolescent with high-risk disease.