Transfusion of red cells after autologous bone marrow harvest in patients with acute leukemia and malignant lymphoma.

Bone marrow was harvested for the purpose of autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) in 21 patients previously treated with chemotherapy and in complete remission from acute leukemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The volume required to obtain 2 times 108 nucleated cells per kg was less than 15 mL per kg in 13 patients and more than 15 mL per kg in 8 patients. The blood admixture was proportional to the aspirated volume (p<0.0001). The number of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM) harvested in the groups was 8.4 ± 2.2 and 3.4 ± 1.4 times 104 per kg, respectively (p<0.0001). Autologous red cells were transfused into 16 of 21 patients, who did not require further homologous transfusions. The mean drop in hemoglobin from the preoperative level was 1.0 ± 0.2 g per dL. No adverse effects were noted. It is concluded that large single-volume bone marrow harvests are possible and may reduce the need for a second harvest, and that, through the transfusion of autologous red cells obtained during marrow harvest, homologous blood transfusion can be avoided in most patients.