Does allogeneic stem cell transplant treat aplastic anaemia?

It is an intensive treatment and is not suitable for everyone. The decision depends on the severity of marrow failure, age, general health, previous treatment and whether a suitably matched donor is available.

Aplastic anaemia stops the bone marrow making enough red cells, white cells and platelets. Before transplant, conditioning medicines prepare the body to accept donor stem cells. The donated cells then settle in the marrow and may establish healthy blood-cell production.

Recovery requires close monitoring because infections, bleeding, rejection and graft-versus-host disease can occur. Graft-versus-host disease develops when donor immune cells attack the recipient's tissues, so preventive medicines and follow-up blood tests are part of care.

A haematology transplant team will review blood counts, bone marrow findings, organ function, infection history and donor matching. Bring a current medicine list and details of transfusions or previous immune-suppressing treatment to the assessment.

Until the plan is clear, follow the team's advice about infection precautions, activity and medicines. Do not stop prescribed treatment or start supplements without checking, because some products can affect bleeding, infection risk or transplant medicines.

Contact the treating team promptly for fever, chills, new bleeding, unusual bruising, worsening breathlessness or marked weakness. These can reflect infection or very low blood counts and may need same-day assessment.

During or after transplant, use the emergency contact instructions provided by the transplant centre for a new rash, persistent diarrhoea, yellowing of the skin, severe vomiting or difficulty keeping medicines down. Call emergency services for severe breathing difficulty, collapse, confusion or uncontrolled bleeding.

Ask how severe your marrow failure is, whether a matched donor has been identified, what conditioning is proposed and how fertility may be affected. It is also useful to discuss the expected hospital stay, caregiver support, infection precautions and how complications will be monitored after discharge.