Trasplante de medula osea y leucemia / Bone marrow transplantation and leukemia

RESUMO

Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) has been established as treatment for patients with acute leukemia in remission. However, ideal age, type and stage of leukemia, and appropiate prognostic indicators for BMT remain controvertial for acute lymphoblastic leukemia; however, the presence of high-risk features at the time of diagnosis are important determinants of the outcome of BMT. On the other hand, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in its remission and the chronic phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia are the best indications for BMT. Allogenic BMT carries the risk of the so called graft versus host disease; this complication might have an antileukemic effect. Syngeneic or autologous BMT can lose this antineoplastic effect, and then is likely to be unsuccessful. The feasibility of BMT in Colombia is discussed.