A general practitioner's guide to hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (hsct) is a medical procedure that consists of infusing stem cells after a short course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or both. It can be used in the treatment of various cancers, as well as some benign conditions. In the present review, we discuss the various types of hsct and their main indications. The principles of the transplant procedure itself and the basics of recipient selection are reviewed. Special attention is given to both the immediate and the long-term complications of hsct and their management strategies. Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation is a potentially life-saving procedure and often the only curative option for a variety of diseases; however, it is not without significant toxicities.

Keywords: Allogeneic transplantation; autologous transplantation; complications of transplantation; graft-versus-host disease; hematologic malignancies.