Related Experiment Videos
The National Marrow Donor Program: how it works, accomplishments to date
J McCullough1, J Hansen, H Perkins
1NMDP Coordinating Center, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.)
|February 1, 1989
Summary
Finding a matched donor for bone marrow transplantation is challenging. The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) successfully located Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-matched unrelated donors for 99% of patients in a preliminary search.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- Bone marrow transplantation is a critical treatment for various diseases.
- A significant challenge is the scarcity of matched sibling donors, affecting ~60% of patients.
- Advancements in Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-matched unrelated donor transplantation offer a viable alternative.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) in identifying HLA-matched unrelated donors.
- To address the donor shortage for bone marrow transplantation.
Main Methods:
- Establishment of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) involving 50 blood banks and 20 marrow transplant centers.
- Creation of a registry of over 20,000 HLA-typed apheresis donors.
- Preliminary donor searches conducted for 1,116 patients.
Main Results:
- HLA-matched unrelated donors were identified for 99% of the 1,116 patients searched.
- The NMDP registry demonstrated a high success rate in locating suitable donors.
Conclusions:
- The NMDP is effective in overcoming the donor shortage for bone marrow transplantation.
- HLA-matched unrelated donors are readily available through the NMDP for patients needing transplants.