Authors' recommendations: Clinicians often have to resort to using unrelated stem cells in transplantation procedures. Attempts are made to ensure that the number of HLA mismatches between donor and recipient are kept to a minimum to ensure the success of the transplant. Allowing HLA mismatches whilst ensuring non-inherited maternal antigens are matched appears to lower transplant-related mortality and the incidence of treatment failure. As the matching and mismatching of both HLA and NIMA was by chance and not by selection, further prospective studies are required to ascertain whether or not these preliminary findings can improve survival in patients who undergo unrelated cord blood stem cell transplantation. This technology appears to be slowly diffusing into Australia and New Zealand. HealthPACT have agreed to disseminate this information to the relevant bodies including the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry's Cord Blood National Management Committee. No further review by HealthPACT is required.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2010

URL for published report: Not Available

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Australia

Organisation Name: Adelaide Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: School of Public Health, Mail Drop 545, University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, AUSTRALIA, Tel: +61 8 8313 4617

Contact Name: ahta@adelaide.edu.au

Contact Email: ahta@adelaide.edu.au

Copyright: Adelaide Health Technology Assessment (AHTA)