Rare complications after second hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for thalassemia major.

Abstract

We describe an 11-year-old girl with thalassemia major who underwent a second hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from a matched related donor and who subsequently developed posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder complicated by severe ascending paralysis resembling Guillian-Barré syndrome. Six months later she developed a massive pericardial effusion. She received a multimodal treatment for these complications and currently, 18 months after transplantation, she is in a good clinical condition, is transfusion independent, with no evidence of graft-versus-host disease and off all treatment. This case highlights the dilemma surrounding second hematopoietic stem cell transplantations in hemoglobinopathies and the need for a careful, well informed, and collaborative decision-making process by patients, families, and medical professionals.

• Authors: Asaf Yanir, Ido Yatsiv, Jacques Braun, Amir Zilkha, Rebecca Brooks, Dalia Bouhanna, Michael Weintraub, Polina Stepensky
• Journal: Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology (J Pediatr Hematol Oncol) Vol. 34 Issue 5 Pg. e209-11 (Jul 2012) ISSN: 1536-3678 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22395220 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Child
• Female
• Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Transplantation Conditioning
• beta-Thalassemia (surgery)