Prediction of nucleated cells in bone marrow stem cell products by donor characteristics: a retrospective single centre analysis

Background and Objectives Number of total nucleated cells is an important prognostic factor of unrelated bone marrow transplantation. The objective of our study was to further optimize donor selection by finding donor characteristics which predict the total nucleated cell concentration in unrelated bone marrow products. Material and Methods Data were collected retrospectively from the pre-donation medical records. The outcome variable was concentration of total nucleated cells in the final products. We investigated several candidate predictors, including demographic variables and peripheral blood counts. A backward selection procedure was performed, using multivariable multilevel analysis. Results A total of 471 donations were included. Significant predictors were increase of age (ratio per 5 years 0 center dot 971), cytomegalovirus (ratio 0 center dot 947 if positive), smoking (ratio 1 center dot 079 if yes), higher haemoglobin (ratio 1 center dot 052 per mmol/l), higher mono-nuclear cells (ratio 1 center dot 169 when mono-nuclear cells > 2 center dot 69 compared to mono-nuclear cells < 1 center dot 89 x 10E9/l), increasing number of whole blood donations (ratio 1 center dot 115 when blood donations > 4 compared to blood donation < 1), and larger body surface area (ratio 1 center dot 179 when body surface area > 2 center dot 07 compared to body surface area < 1 center dot 82 m2). The model was adjusted for collection volume. Conclusion Presence of all favourable factors was associated with a twofold higher concentration of total nucleated cells in the bone marrow harvest.