[Requirements for early discharge after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation]

To assess the requirements for early discharge after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), we evaluated infectious complications and transplantation-related toxicity (TRT) among 46 recipients who underwent allogeneic BMT between January 1997 and August 1999 at our institute. Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia developed in 29 and 26 patients, respectively. More than 95% of the episodes occurred before day 70. Among the patients without CMV antigenemia and without prednisolone (PSL) therapy for acute GVHD (n = 15), only 3 developed TRT or infections (pneumonia, varicella zoster virus infection and hemolytic uremic syndrome), but all of these episodes were cured without fatality. On the other hand, in patients with CMV antigenemia and/or PSL therapy for acute GVHD, a high incidence of TRT and infectious complications was observed until day 180, and some of these episodes were fatal. In conclusion, discharge on day 70 after allogeneic BMT seems to be safe for patients who do not develop CMV antigenemia or receive PSL therapy for acute GVHD.