Autologous transplant of hematopoietic cells: Results from cryopreservation in Sanatorio Allende from Cordoba

Abstract

17530 Background: Preservation of hematopoietic cells (HC) is usually achieved by storing cells in liquid nitrogen at - 1960C (Cryopreservation) (CP). We aim to: observe how many leukapheresis (LK) were necessary in order to obtain the minimal number (n°) of HC (CD34+/kg) for a proper engraftment (EG); correlate the n° of cryopreservated and infused cells with the time of EG; determine if the time of CP at -800C influences the time of EG; determine if the pre-transplant (PT) condition (partial or complete remission) plays a role in the time of EG and/or the time of hospitalization of the patients (pts). Methods: This was a retrospective study. We included all pts that received autologous transplant which HC after CP in our institution between September 2004 and August 2006. Qualitative results were analyzed by Fischer exact test and relation between qualitative and quantitative results by Mann-Whitney/Wilcoxon two- sample test (Kruskal-Wallis test for two groups). Results: 27 pts were included (N=27); the average age was 48.3± 16.6 years with a range of 64 (4–68) years. Diagnosis included: Multiple Myeloma 40%, NHL 22%, Hodgkin disease 15%, AML 15%, Amyloidosis 4%, and Ependymoma 4%. In 66.7% of the pts only one round of LK was needed for recollection. The CP time at -800C had a range of 113 (8–122) days. The median time for EG was 11 days for neutrophils (nt) and 17 days for platelets (pl). There was not significant correlation between PT condition and: n° of nt before or after day 11 (p=0.515); n° of pl before or after day 17 (p=0.972); hospitalization time (p=0.55); time for EG of nt (p-0.553) and pl (p=0.936). There was a significant difference between receiving =5x106 CD34+/Kg and pl EG time before day 17 (p=0.01) but not for nt EG time (p=3.83). CP time had no significant difference in relation to the pl EG before or after day 17 (p=0.08) or nt EG before or after day 11 (p=0.49). Conclusions: The majority of pts had a proper CD34+/Kg count with one LK round. Doses =5x106 CD34+/Kg were associated with less time for pl EG. The storage of HC at -800C showed to be safe for periods between one week and 4 months. The time of storage at -800C did not seem to affect the time of EG but showed a trend towards slowing pl recovery. The PT condition did not correlate with the time for EG or the hospitalization time. No significant financial relationships to disclose.