Children Undergoing Marrow Transplantation Research Articles

Can we make some general recommendations regarding immune recovery after hematopoietic reconstitution preceded by ablative therapy?

Children undergoing marrow transplantation have compromised immune systems for variable periods of time after transplant. A number of methods have been utilized to assess recovery of the immune system. Four recommendations are made in regards to the testing that should be done, when the testing should be done, when immunizations should be provided and when antibiotic and other infection prophylaxis can be reduced.

Successful program to prevent aspergillus infections in children undergoing marrow transplantation: use of nasal amphotericin.

Aspergillus infections in the pediatric bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients are usually fatal. We began the use of a prophylactic nasal spray of amphotericin in 1990. This nasal spray was provided in addition to low-dose intravenous amphotericin. During the time of this study, the number of fatal cases of aspergillus in the pediatric BMT population was reduced significantly from 13.8% to 1.8% (P < 0.0025) thereby suggesting that the use of nasal amphotericin in this population helps to prevent fatal aspergillus infections. The lack of significant side-effects and the ease of administration make this a very helpful preventive measure in the supportive care of pediatric bone marrow transplant patients.