title: Leukapheresis in children weighing less than 20 kg.
abstract: Augmentation of standard chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) rescue is a standard treatment strategy. However, in pediatric patients weighing less than 20 kg, the collection of PBSC presents a challenge. We report our experience with nine pediatric patients weighing between 4.33 and 19.9 kg and a total of 23 PBSC collection aphereses. None of our patients experienced any major complications. We conclude that PBSC apheresis in children is a safe method. It should be based on a standardized procedure that includes the determination of clinical and laboratory parameters and appropriate monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Hospital of the University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany. harald.sauer@uniklinikum-saarland.de
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: Haase
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roland
authors.forename: Lieser
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ulla
authors.forename: Diwan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ortrud
authors.forename: Föll
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jürgen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007937:Leukapheresis / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013851:Thinness; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous