Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation activity in Europe 1999

This survey on transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells from blood or bone marrow in Europe, the 10th in a series, reports the numbers of transplants performed in 1999 and concentrates on changes in indications and donor types. Members of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation and associated teams are invited every year to report their transplant numbers by indication, donor type and stem cell source. In 1999, a total 21 430 transplants were performed by 580 teams in 35 European countries. Of these transplants 18 720 were first transplants, 5879 (31%) allogeneic, 12 841 (69%) autologous; an additional 562 allogeneic and 2148 autologous transplants were re- or multiple transplants. Ninety-five percent of the autologous transplants and 45% of the allogeneic transplants were peripheral blood stem cell transplants. A total of 103, respectively 1.8% of the allogeneic transplants, were cord blood cell transplants. Main indications in 1999 were leukemias with 6289 transplants (34%), 70% thereof allogeneic transplants; lymphomas with 8219 transplants (44%), 92% thereof autologous transplants; solid tumors with 3302 transplants (18%), 99% thereof autologous transplants; nonmalignant disorders with 715 transplants (4%), 85% thereof allogeneic transplants. Absolute numbers of allogeneic transplants continued to increase as in previous years by 10%, in contrast, there was for the first time in 10 years a decrease in autologous transplants, mainly for solid tumors. Reasons therefore are discussed. These data reflect the most recent changes in utilisation and document current status of blood and marrow transplantation in Europe.