Acute graft-versus-host disease in thalassaemic marrow transplantation with low-dose antithymocyte globulin

Our unit performed transplantations on 21 classes II and III thalassaemic patients (class II patients had either hepatomegaly or portal fibrosis and class III patients had both). We used busulfan (15 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg). Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was cyclosporin, prednisolone and low-dose antithymocyte globulin. Our patient data showed a low incidence of acute GVHD following transplantation. We offer this regimen as an acceptable therapy for thalassaemic patients undergoing allogeneic marrow transplantation as a safe clinical procedure, irrespective of the class of patient.