Cure of aplastic anaemia in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria by marrow transfusion from identical twin: Failure of peripheral-leucocyte transfusion to correct marrow aplasia

Lancet. 1979 May 5;1(8123):945-7. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)91720-3.

Abstract

The ability of syngeneic peripheral leucocytes to cure marrow aplasia was tested in a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (P.N.H.). Transfusion of 7.1X10(10) white cells obtained by leucopheresis from an identical-twin donor, providing 3.4X10(4) myeloid progenitors (C.F.U.-C)/kg, failed to improve marrow function within two months. In contrast, transfusion of 1.3X10(10) nucleated bone-marrow cells, representing 6.4X10(4) C.F.U.-C/kg, from the same donor resulted in prompt bone-marrow recovery. These observations support the hypothesis that aplastic anaemia in P.N.H. is a stem-cell defect that may be corrected by the simple infusion of relatively small numbers of normal bone-marrow cells. They also seem to indicate a distinct advantage of marrow cells over peripheral-blood mononuclear cells in their ability to correct marrow aplasia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anemia, Aplastic / blood
  • Anemia, Aplastic / therapy*
  • Blood Cell Count
  • Blood Platelets / pathology
  • Blood Transfusion*
  • Circadian Rhythm
  • Diseases in Twins*
  • Female
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal / blood
  • Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Transfusion*
  • Leukocytes / pathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Transplantation, Isogeneic
  • Twins, Monozygotic