[Obstructive-restrictive pulmonary syndrome as long-term side effect of bone marrow transplantation in thalassemia major. Prognostic and therapeutic problems].

The Authors describe a case of severe obstructive-restrictive pulmonary disease following bone marrow transplantation in a Cooley disease affected child. It is an uncommon complication, strictly related to chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (c-GVHD) and for the prevention of which it is may be necessary a more aggressive c-GVHD immunosuppressive therapy. Bone marrow transplantation represents today the only actual resolutive therapy for thalassemia major; so the number of transplantations and related undesirable effects are thought to be increasing in the future. Therefore, a permanent Centre for Control of the complications can be useful for the improvement of survival and quality of life in these patients.