Aplastic Anemia Treated with Bone-Marrow Transfusion from an Identical Twin

Abstract

THE essential function of the bone marrow is to provide circulating cellular elements by a continual process of proliferation and maturation. In aplastic anemia, regardless of the underlying etiology, this function is drastically impaired. Presently available therapy is directed toward supporting the patient through the resulting period of granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia until spontaneous recovery of the marrow occurs. Of great interest in this disease are the studies of repopulation of the marrow cavity by proliferation of transfused marrow cells from a donor, but this has had limited application because of immunologic barriers. In the case reported below, a patient . . .