Current role and status of bone marrow transplantation

The applications of bone marrow transplantation have been limited by the serious morbidity and mortality associated with the procedure. In this article we discuss improvements in our understanding of the immunobiology of marrow transplantation. We also describe how the availability of recombinant growth factors for the haemopoietic and immune systems and the introduction of immunomodulatory monoclonal antibodies are beginning to make a major impact on the practice and outcome of the procedure.