Effective collection of peripheral blood stem cells in children weighing 20 kilogram or less in a single large‐volume apheresis procedure

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation has become a routine procedure in pediatric oncology. A special group of PBSC donors are children weighing 20 kg or less. Limited vascular access and low blood volume puts them at a higher risk. Central line placement and a priming apheresis machine are recommended to avoid these complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PBSC collections performed from July 2006 to May 2013 in children weighing less than 20 kg were included. All donors had a central venous catheter (CVC). An apheresis machine was primed with packet red blood cells. RESULTS: Twenty-seven PBSC collections were performed in 22 children weighing 20 kg or less, 14 for allogeneic and 8 for autologous transplantation, in order to collect at least 2 × 10(6) CD34+ cells/kg. In the allogeneic group, median age and weight were 3 years (0.8-7) and 15.5 kg (8-20). In the autologous group, median age and weight were 3 years (2-7) and 15.35 kg (12.5-19.5). A single large-volume apheresis was sufficient to obtain the CD34+ cells needed in 78.5% and 75% of the allogeneic and autologous groups, respectively, with a median 11.84 × 10(6) and 5.79 × 10(6) CD34+ cells collected per kilogram of weight of the recipient. No serious complications related to the apheresis procedure or CVC placement occurred. CONCLUSION: PBSC collection in a single large-volume apheresis for allogeneic and autologous transplants in children weighing 20 kg or less is a safe and effective procedure when based on standardized protocols.