Delay in Onset of First Transfusion and Increased Risk of Graft Rejection in β Thalassemia Patients Undergoing a HLA Matched Related Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant

Allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) remains the only curative option for patients with β thalassemia major (TM). Graft rejection has been a major problem in this group of patients. The increased risk of graft rejection has often been attributed to the number of blood transfusions that these patients are exposed to. However, the published data is confusing with one large series suggesting that patients who had >100 transfusion pre-SCT had a significantly lower risk of graft rejection (Blood 1996; 87: 2082). It is also generally accepted that in patients with thalassemia intermedia the risk of alloimmunisation (red cell) is reduced if transfusion is initiated <12 months of age (Vox Sang 1990; 58:50). 

From October, 1991 to April, 2013, 400 HLA matched related transplants for TM was done at our center. The median age was 8 years (range: 1-24) and there were 250 (62.5%) males. 154 (38.5%) were Lucarelli Class II and 229 (57.2%) were in the Class III risk group. Majority (72%) received a busulfan based conditioning regimen while 22% received a treosulfan based regimen. Bone marrow was the source of stem cells in 81% and PBSC in the rest. There were 11 (2.8%) early regimen related toxicity (RRT) deaths prior to day 12 and these were excluded for analysis of graft rejection. Of the remaining 389 cases there were 48 (12.3%) graft rejections. Among these 26 (54%) were primary graft failures while 22 (46%) were secondary graft failures. The median age at first transfusion in this cohort was 6 months (range: 1-66; data not available in 10). The median number of blood transfusions prior to SCT was 85 (range: 4 – 450).

After excluding early RRT deaths the EFS and OS of the entire cohort was 70±2.5% and 77±2.2% respectively. On a univariate cox regression analysis the variables that impacted graft rejection significantly were donor age (P=0.000), liver size (P=0.007) and increased age at first blood transfusion (P=0.035). The total number of transfusions prior to SCT was not significantly associated with graft rejection (P=0.894) (Table 1). On a multivariate analysis only liver size (P=0.019) and age at first transfusion (P=0.022) retained their statistically significant adverse effect.

In conclusion, delay in the onset of transfusion in patients with β thalassemia major undergoing a HLA matched related allogeneic SCT probably has a greater adverse effect on engraftment than the total number of transfusions prior to SCT. 

 

Table 1: Impact of age at first blood transfusion and total number of transfusions prior to transplant on graft rejection.

 

	Had graft rejection N (%) / Mean±SD/ Median(Range)	Did not have graft rejection N (%) / Mean±SD/ Median(Range)	Cox regression Univariate analysis	Cox regression Multivariate analysis
N	48	341	P-value	P-value
Age at first transfusion (months)	10.5±13.4	7.7±6.7	0.036	0.022
Total number of transfusions prior to SCT	100 (6-373)	85 (4-450)	NS