title: Haemopoietic stem cell transplantation for children in Australia and New Zealand, 1998-2006: a report on behalf of the Australasian Bone Marrow Transplant Recipient Registry and the Australian and New Zealand Children's Haematology Oncology Group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) activity and trends among paediatric patients in Australia and New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of data reported to the Australasian Bone Marrow Transplant Recipient Registry by the seven paediatric HSCT institutions in Australia and New Zealand over the 9-year period 1998-2006, with particular focus on the most recent years (2002-2006).
  
  
  METHODS
  Types of HSCT performed; transplant-related mortality (TRM); stem cell sources; indications for HSCT; causes of death after HSCT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over the period 1998-2006, 522 autologous HSCT procedures (41%) and 737 allogeneic procedures (59%) were performed. About 60% of allogeneic transplants involved alternative donors (donors other than a human leukocyte antigen-matched sibling). The use of umbilical cord blood as a source of haemopoietic stem cells has doubled since 1998, with 34% of allogeneic transplants in 2006 using cord blood. Over the period 2002-2006, the median age of patients receiving transplants was 7 years (range, 0-19 years). The most common indications for allogeneic HSCT were acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (33%) and acute myeloid leukaemia (24%). The most common indications for autologous HSCT were neuroblastoma (23%), medulloblastoma (21%) and Ewing sarcoma (10%). TRM at 1 year after transplant was 22% for alternative donor transplants, 7% for matched-sibling transplants and 5% for autologous transplants. Relapse or persistence of a child's underlying condition accounted for 54% of all deaths within 1 year after transplant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HSCT is an important procedure for children with a range of life-threatening illnesses. Local trends in the indications for HSCT, donor selection and TRM reflect contemporary international practice.
authors.affiliation: Oncology/Haematology Service, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD.
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Hallahan
authors.forename: Tina L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kilo
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nivison-Smith
authors.forename: Tracey A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tapp
authors.forename: Lochie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teague
authors.forename: Shaun R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tiedemann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000628:therapy; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017741:Survivors; D055815:Young Adult