Abstract
We retrospectively analyzed the arrangement of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) testing, the final decision about donation, and the clinical outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which was planned to be performed from a related donor as the first candidate between 1995 and 2015 in our hospital. Of fifty-nine candidates (35 siblings and 24 parents), 54 were eventually selected as HSCT donors. However, HSCT was not performed from four siblings (11.4%) and one parents (4.2%). Four candidates were replaced by alternative donors due to the donor health problems, intention of the donors or their family members, or to avoid HSCT from a carrier of a congenital disease. HSCT from the other candidate was canceled because the patient did not consent to HSCT. Peripheral blood stem cell harvesting was performed instead of bone marrow harvesting in two other donors due to their health problems. The physical and psychological eligibility of donor candidates, appropriate for their age, should be sufficiently examined. Furthermore, informed consent should be obtained from pediatric donor candidates and their family before HLA testing to avoid the unnecessary pain.
