Allogeneic peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation in children

The use of peripheral blood as a source of hematopoietic precursors is an alternative to the bone marrow in allogeneic transplantation. Although pediatric allogeneic PBPC experience is limited, there is no reason to believe that the outcome and benefit with PBPC should be different than adults. We describe our initial experience in two children who received PBPC allogeneic transplantation in whom the donors were mobilized with filgrastim. Hematopoietic recovery was achieved on days 14 and 16, and the patients did not develop severe GVHD.