Allogeneic peripheral blood progenitor cell transplant after bone marrow graft failure: report of a case

A 31-year-old woman diagnosed with acute myelocytic leukemia received an allogeneic peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplant one month after a previous bone marrow graft failed. PBPCs were mobilized with granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor and collected by apheresis. T-cell depletion was not performed and no further chemo- or radiotherapy was given for the second transplant. Engraftment was prompt, with the peripheral blood leukocyte count rising dramatically to 2,400/microL, six days after completion of PBPC transplant. The platelet count reached 36,000/microL on the eighth day and was self-sustained thereafter. Both blood grouping and bone marrow karyotyping confirmed donor origin of the engraftment. At the time of writing, the patient has been disease-free for over 200 days without any complications of acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease.