[Venous occlusive disease of the liver and autologous bone marrow transplantation. Preventive role for heparin?].

The pathogenesis of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver remains unclear. In a retrospective study we reviewed 63 patients treated with high dose conditioning regimens followed by autologous bone marrow transplant. All patients were given low dose heparin (1 mg/kg). Only one patient developed VOD when heparin was stopped. We think that low dose heparin seems an interesting proposal for an randomized study to prevent VOD.