Autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) using unpurged marrow as intensification for first complete remission in acute leukaemia (AL).

In order to assess the clinical advantage of autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) without ex vivo purging, the results in 26 patients (10 AML, 16 ALL) in 1. CR were analyzed retrospectively. All patients received 3 consolidation cycles "in-vivo purging" before marrow harvesting. Beside relapses infections and cardiac failure were the most frequent complications. After 1 to 12.5 months 11 cases relapsed with a higher probability in patients who had a longer period of induction and between CR and ABMT. 12 patients became relapse-free survivors 6 to 53 months after ABMT with a stable plateau after 12.5 months for 8 patients. In conclusion, ABMT following "in-vivo purging" as the strongest one-step postremission therapy in patients with acute leukaemias may be a way for better long-term results in these patients.