Frequency of Finding Family Donors: A Single Center Experience

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant is a curative treatment option for many hematologic diseases. The existence of a fully compatible donor for recipients is the first condition for minimized transplant-related mortality and morbidity. The best donor for hematopoietic stem cell transplant is an HLA-matched sibling donor. The possibility of finding an HLA-matched sibling is less than 30% worldwide. Hematopoietic stem cell transplant is needed for an increasing number of patients every year, but the ability to find a fully compatible donor has limited its use.

From August 2012 to May 2017, we screened 412 adult patients who required AHSCT and their families for HLA tissue groups who were seen at our center (Baskent University Adana Dr. Turgut Noyan Research and Medical Center Hematology Unit). To screen tissue groups at our center, we perform lowresolution typing for HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and -DQB. If an HLA genotype cannot be identified, verification typing is done using highresolution testing.

We found matched family donors in 227 (55%) of 412 patients screened at our center. The ratio of HLAmatched related donors was 83% for 279 patients who received allogeneic stem cell transplant.

The likelihood of finding eligible unrelated donors has been gradually increasing, in part due to the development of the National Bone Marrow Bank. However, a careful screening for related donors is still important. Our findings indicate the importance of careful examination of family genealogy and of careful family screening in our region.