Bone marrow transplantation.

Bone marrow transplantation can be considered in any disease state resulting in the malfunction or absence of part or all bone marrow elements. Diseases such as aplastic anemia, leukemia, and immunodeficiency disease are being treated with bone marrow transplantation. As with any organ transplant, graft rejection is a possibility. In bone marrow transplantation, there is the additional, unique problem of graft versus host disease. In order to prevent or minimize graft rejection, the immunocompetence of the recipient and the degree of disparity between donor and recipient at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci are considered. The results of bone marrow transplantation are variable, and the mortality rate is still relatively high. However, progress is being made, and in many instances, normal bone marrow function can be restored in patients with whom other treatment has failed.