title: Evidence of stem-cell competition in children with malignant disease. A controlled study of hypertransfusion.
abstract: In a prospective, randomized controlled study, 30 children who were receiving chemotherapy for malignant disease and who were anaemic and neutropenic, were randomized: 18 to receive transfusion to a Hb of 10-12 g/dl (group A) and 12 to receive moderate hypertransfusion to a Hb of 14-16 g/dl (group B). Children in group B had a significantly more rapid rise in polymorph count, lower incidence of infection, and lower incidence of interruption to chemotherapy. The findings of this study provide evidence for the existence of a common stem cell in human marrow, at least for erythroid and myeloid cell lines, and demonstrate that the concept of "stem-cell competition" derived from animal experiments has a human counterpart which is clinically significant.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000740:Anemia / Q000628:therapy; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000628:therapy; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins