[The central registry of bone marrow donors and the program for bone marrow transplantation from unrelated donors--20 months' experience].

The authors describe their 20 months' experience with the establishment of a bone marrow register in the Czech Republic and its practical association with the programme of bone marrow transplantations from non-related subjects. During the 20 months of activity 5455 voluntary bone marrow donors were examined and at present more than 500 new voluntary donors are examined every month. For 21 patients a HLA identical unrelated donor is sought. For four patients a HLA compatible donor was found. The first bone marrow transplantation from a unrelated donor was performed and another patient is prepared for transplantation within the next few days. The authors discuss professional, organizational, moral and ethical problems associated with the elaboration of this medical programme.