Predictive factors for long-term engraftment of autologous blood stem cells

Data from 170 consecutive patients aged 19–66 years (median age 46 years) who underwent unmanipulated autologous blood stem cell transplant (ASCT) were analyzed to determine if total CD34 + cells/kg infused, CD34 + subsets (CD34 + 41 + , CD34 + 90 + , CD34 + 33 − , CD34 + 38 − , CD34 + 38 − DR − ), peripheral blood CD34 + cell (PBCD34 + ) count on first apheresis day, or various clinical factors were associated with low blood counts 6 months post ASCT. Thirty-four patients were excluded from analysis either because of death ( n = 17) or re-induction chemotherapy prior to 6 months post ASCT ( n = 13), or because of lack of follow-up data ( n = 4). Of the remaining 136 patients, 46% had low WBC (<4 × 10 9 /l), 41% low platelets (<150 × 10 9 /l), and 34% low hemoglobin (<120 g/l) at a median of 6 months following ASCT. By Spearman's rank correlation, both the total CD34 + cell dose/kg and the PBCD34 + count correlated with 6 month blood counts better than any subset of CD34 + cells or any clinical factor. The PBCD34 + count was overall a stronger predictor of 6 month blood counts than was the total CD34 + cells/kg infused. Both factors retained their significance in multivariate analysis, controlling for clinical factors. In conclusion, subsets of CD34 + cells and clinical factors are inferior to the total CD34 + cell dose/kg and PBCD34 + count in predicting 6 month blood counts following ASCT. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 26 , 1299–1304.