The DKMS-BMST Thalassemia program: Description, scope and impact

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is the only established curative therapy for thalassemia. However, access to transplantation is constrained in limited-resource settings. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing of patients and potential donors is one relevant barrier to al...

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Main Authors: Nitin Agarwal (Author), K. Jothi (Author), Shalini Gambhir (Author), Gabi Rall (Author), Regina Landwehr (Author), Lawrence Faulkner (Author), Latha Jagannathan (Author), Patrick Paul (Author), Alexander H. Schmidt (Author)
Format: Book
Published: Elsevier, 2023-09-01T00:00:00Z.
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Summary:Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is the only established curative therapy for thalassemia. However, access to transplantation is constrained in limited-resource settings. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing of patients and potential donors is one relevant barrier to allo-HSCT. Here we report on the DKMS-BMST thalassemia program. The program runs thalassemia camps where buccal swab samples are obtained from patients and potential family donors and HLA-typed free of charge. Since 2018, within the scope of the program, 390 camps have been conducted in India and 10,216 samples have been collected and HLA-typed. We are aware of 220 transplantations in patients of the program and are confident that the program makes a small but significant contribution to the cure of patients with thalassemia in India.
Item Description:2468-1245
10.1016/j.phoj.2023.07.001