Autologous CD34+ enriched peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation is associated with higher morbidity in patients with lymphoma when compared to unmanipulated PBPC transplantation.

High-dose chemotherapy followed by CD34⁺ enriched peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation is used for the treatment of primary refractory or relapsed Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. The CD34⁺ enrichment procedure, while reducing tumor burden, may compromise immunological reconstitution in the transplanted patient and result in increased rates of post-transplant infection. We compared infectious complications in patients with lymphoma who were treated with high-dose chemotherapy and supported either with CD34⁺ enriched PBPC (n = 19) or unmanipulated PBPCs (n = 24). Analysis was limited to patients discharged from initial hospitalization for transplantation with a minimum of 1 year follow-up and free of lymphoma recurrence. We found a statistically significant increase in the number of patients with one or more infectious events in the CD34⁺transplant group (14/19) compared with the unmanipulated PBPC group (9/24, P < 0.01). Greater numbers of patients with two or more infectious events were observed in the CD34⁺ group (7/19 vs 2/24, P < 0.03) and an increased incidence of bacterial infections was observed in the CD34⁺ group (10/19 vs 5/24, P < 0.05). Two deaths due to infectious complications were observed in the CD34⁺ group. There was no significant difference in blood lymphocyte or monocyte recovery between the groups. These data demonstrate a significant increase in the long-term incidence of infectious events in lymphoma patients transplanted with autologous CD34⁺ enriched PBPCs compared to unmanipulated PBPCs. Thus, patients who undergo CD34⁺ enriched PBPC transplantation should be followed closely for infectious complications and prolonged infectious prophylaxis should be considered. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 26, 831–836. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]