Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation at Christchurch 1979-1985

Twelve bone marrow transplants have been carried out at Christchurch since 1979 in five patients with aplastic anaemia and seven with acute leukaemia. Five patients are currently alive at 77, 69, 63, 45, and seven months post-transplant. Acute and chronic graft versus host disease have been major problems and its clinical features and management are described. Long term follow-up data is presented on the four patients currently alive at between three to six years post-transplant. The practical problems we have experienced by carrying out bone marrow transplants without special funding have been considerable and the implications of this are discussed.