Graft-versus-host disease following sibling allogeneic bone marrow transplantation--the Singapore experience

Fourteen patients with haematological malignancies received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from Major Histocompatility Complex compatible siblings. Five (35.7%) patients developed mild and 4 (28.6%) severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). There were correlations between the age of recipient (p less than 0.05), the degree of haematological support (p less than 0.1) and GVHD. The effects of the Mixed Lymphocyte Culture reactivity, donor/recipient sex match, cyclosporin A levels and the use of Total Parenteral Nutrition were not apparent. Two patients had relapses of their initial diseases. One of them did not develop any GVHD and the other only mild GVHD post bone marrow transplantation.