Targeted pathologic evaluation of bone marrow donors identifies previously undiagnosed marrow abnormalities

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Transplant Immunology
• Oncology

Background:

• Bone marrow donor screening is essential for recipient and donor safety.
• Certain conditions like abnormal blood counts, personal malignancy history, or advanced age necessitate further donor evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the yield of extended screening for potential bone marrow donors.
• To identify the types and prevalence of marrow abnormalities in screened donors.

Main Methods:

• Morphologic, flow cytometric, and cytogenetic studies were performed on potential bone marrow donors.
• A cohort of 122 potential donors screened between 2001 and 2011 were analyzed.
• Donors were selected for screening based on specific criteria including age, blood counts, and medical history.

Main Results:

• Marrow abnormalities were detected in 9% (11 of 122) of screened potential donors.
• Abnormalities included plasma cell dyscrasia, myelodysplastic syndrome, clonal cytogenetic abnormalities, and a JAK2 V617F mutation.
• The highest detection rates of abnormalities were in donors with a history of malignancy (50%) and anemia (23%).

Conclusions:

• Extended screening protocols effectively identify significant, previously undiagnosed bone marrow abnormalities in potential donors.
• These findings underscore the importance of thorough donor evaluation to ensure the success of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and donor safety.