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The article summarises the statistical data of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) carried out in Hungary between 1990-1995 in yearly distribution. Since the first BMT up to the end of 1995, 168 BMT were performed. The number of transplantations since 1990 to our days was gradually increasing. As a result of this activity in the three transplantation centers (National Institute of Haematology and Immunology, St. László Hospital and County Hospital in Miskolc) 36 allogeneic and 12 autologous BMT were performed in 1995. Out of the allogeneic BMT cases, 14% of them were completed with unrelated, donors in the last three years. The most frequent indications for allogenic BMT are: chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), myelodysplasia, severe aplastic anaemia. Child allogenic BMTs are carried out on pediatric patients in St. László Hospital in leukaemia, severe aplastic anaemia cases and children born with immunodeficiency. Autologous BMTs started in an organised way in 1995 for adult patients in cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and for children with solid tumour indication in the Miskolc Centre. BMT activity in Hungary compared with international data, especially within Europe, shows a significant drop behind. To calculate for ten million inhabitants, the optimal BMT activity should be between 100-200 transplantations (allogeneic and autologous BMT together) in 1994. Among the Central European countries Hungary and Poland fall most behind. Autologous BMTs in most countries of Europe are above of allogeneic BMTs in numbers as indication in cases of lymphoma and solid tumours (first of all mamma carcinoma) comes into focus. This summary emphasises the most important difficulties in connection with the development of the National BMT program.

From September 1993 to August 1997, 24 consecutive adult acute leukemia patients (20 AML and 4 ALL) received allogeneic bone marrow transplant (21 sibling, 1 twin, 2 MUD). The probability of 3 year leukemia free survival is 19/24 (79%), the transplant related mortality is 2/24 (8%), the relapse rate is 3/24 (13%). The median follow up period is 34 months (range 7-51). Three AML patients with high probability of TRM received a special radiation-free conditioning regimen (mitobronitol/cytarabine/ cyclophosphamide) originally described by Kelemen et al in CML patients for decreasing transplant related complications. All the three patients are alive and disease free over 3 years.

From January 1992 to December 1997, 21 consecutive patients (14 SAA, 3 SCID, 1 Fanconi anemia, 1 Diamond-Blackfan anemia, 1 mucolipidosis and 1 mucopolysaccharidosis type I.) were transplanted (16 HLA-id. family, 2 MUD and 3 haploidentical family donors) in a single center. The median follow up period is 41 months (range 7-76). The probability of 3.5 year overall disease free survival is 14/21 (67%), the transplant related mortality is 4/21 (19%). All the SCID patients are alive and disease free. 3 SAA patients had signs of fungal infection prior to transplant. They died in spite of intensive antifungal treatment resulting reduced DFS for SAA to 71%. Two patients with lysosomal storage disorders (mucolipidosis and MPS I.) rejected the haploidentical T-cell depleted graft 1 and 11 months after transplant, respectively. In 2 cases non-engraftment occured, both patients were retransplanted successfully.

From December 1995 to April 1998, 20 consecutive adult patients suffering from chemosensitive relapse of Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (11 Hodgkin, 9 non-Hodgkin Lymphoma) received autologous stem cell transplantation. The median follow up period is 15 months (range 6-28). The overall survival is 18/20 (90 %), the event free survival is 13/20 (65%). None of the patients died of transplant related cause.