Cord blood transplantation in patients with hemoglobinopathies

Despite the optimization of conventional treatment, both thalassemia and sickle cell disease are still associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries. Allogeneic transplantation of hematopoietic progenitors is the only curative treatment and represents an attractive option for these patients. In view of the low incidence of graft-versus-host disease associated with the procedure, allogeneic cord blood transplantation (CBT) is particularly appealing for patients with non-malignant disorders. Available evidence indicates that related donor CBT is a safe and effective option for patients with hemoglobinopathies, able to offer results at least as good as those reported using bone marrow cells.