An unusual case of donor-derived myelodysplastic syndrome following double-unit umbilical cord blood transplantation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Am J Hematol. 2012 Sep;87(9):931-3. doi: 10.1002/ajh.23260. Epub 2012 Jun 22.

Abstract

Umbilical cord-blood transplantation is considered an effective treatment strategy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) when a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched donor is unavailable. The use of a second unit helps ensure engraftment in larger adults and those with comorbidities, even though only one unit engrafts in most patients. Herein, we present the clinical and laboratory characteristics of a patient who developed donor-derived myelodysplastic syndrome (ddMDS) after double umbilical cord-blood transplantation (dUCB HSCT). To our knowledge, no cases of ddMDS have been described in a patient with a history of ALL in molecular remission after receiving a dUCB HSCT. Current molecular techniques, including analysis of short tandem repeats (STR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) allowed us to firmly establish donor origin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Donors*
  • Chromosome Aberrations
  • Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Fetal Blood* / cytology
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Karyotyping
  • Male
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / etiology*
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / genetics
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy*
  • Tandem Repeat Sequences