Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in pediatric population

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a procedure in which these precursor cells are infused to restore bone marrow function, which may be partially or completely impaired due to a bone marrow disorders or as a result of a secondary failure, including medullary aplasia caused by high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy administered to eradicate a malignancy before transplantation. During the past 20 years, alternative sources of stem cells have been identiied, such as are the peripheral and cord blood cells, which have shown broad clinical utility and immune reconstitution adequate. Our understanding of the major histocompatibility complex role in allogeneic HSCT has improved and more accurate molecular methods for donors and recipients have been developed. These advances, along with the growth in the number of unrelated donors in international banks as well as increasing umbilical cord blood units, have improved the likelihood of inding a donor matched unrelated and thus the option of HSCT in more patients. In the past decade the indications for HSCT have expanded and their applications will continue to increase in the future, especially in genetic disorders. HSCT is now a safe procedure and is being used earlier for malignant diseases, where it is possible to obtain better results when this procedure is indicated.