[Use of hematopoietic stem cells from cord blood for allogenic transplantation in man].

Cells contained in umbilical cord blood collected after birth can be cryopreserved and used for hematopoietic stem cells transplantation in patients with severe hematological disorders. The first success has led to the development of cryopreserved umbilical cord blood banks. More than 500 cord blood transplant have been reported and more than 10,000 cord blood have been stored for use in unrelated and related matched and mismatched transplants. European results show that the number of hematopoietic stem cells present in one cord blood is sufficient to permanently engraft most of the patients. Graft versus host disease is decreased even in unrelated mismatched transplants.