Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for the Treatment of Severe Aplastic Anemia: Evidence-Based Guidelines From the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

Abstract

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a potentially curative treatment for severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Existing guidance about HCT in SAA is primarily derived from expert reviews, registry data and societal guidelines; however, transplant-specific guidelines for SAA are lacking. A panel of SAA experts, both pediatric and adult transplant physicians, developed consensus recommendations using Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology employing a GRADE guideline development tool. The panel agrees with previous recommendations for the preferential use of bone marrow as a graft source and the use of rabbit over horse antithymocyte globulin (ATG) for HCT conditioning. Fludarabine containing regimens are preferred for patients at high risk of graft failure and those receiving matched unrelated or haploidentical donor transplant. Given advancements in HCT, the panel does not endorse the historical 40-year age cut-off for considering upfront HCT in adults, acknowledging that fit older patients may also benefit from HCT. The panel also endorses increased utilization of HCT by prioritizing matched unrelated or haploidentical donor HCT over immunosuppressive therapy in children and adults who lack a matched related donor. Finally, the panel suggests either calcineurin inhibitor plus methotrexate or post-transplant cyclophosphamide-based graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis for matched related or matched unrelated donor recipients. These recommendations reflect a significant advancement in transplant strategies for SAA and highlight the importance of ongoing and further research to revisit current evidence in terms of donor choice, conditioning chemotherapy, GVHD prophylaxis and post-transplant immunosuppression.