Changes in Stem Cell Transplant activity and procedures during SARS-CoV2 pandemic in Italy: an Italian Bone Marrow Transplant Group

• Published in: Bone marrow transplantation (Basingstoke) Vol. 56; no. 9; p. 2272
• Main Authors: Russo, Domenico, Polverelli, Nicola, Malagola, Michele, Farina, Mirko, Leoni, Alessandro, Bernardi, Simona, Mammoliti, Sonia, Sacchi, Nicoletta, Ma, Ciceri, Fabio, Zallio, Francesco, Olivieri, Attilio, Falcioni, Sadia, Sto, Michieli, Mariagrazia, Carluccio, Paola, Grassi, Anna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Publishing Group 01-09-2021
• Subjects: Epidemics; Hematopoietic stem cells; Italy; Medical centers; Surveys; Transplantation; Italy
• ISSN: 0268-3369
• DOI: 10.1038/s41409-021-01287-w

The Transplant Centers belonging to Gruppo Italiano per il Trapianto di Midollo Osseo (GITMO) conducted a survey with the aim of evaluating the effect of SARS-CoV2 pandemic on the allogeneic transplant activity in Italy. The pandemic period from 1/3/2020 to 31/7/2020 was compared with the same period in 2019. Overall, in 2020 there was a 2.4% reduction in the number of allo-HCT cases compared to 2019. Interestingly, this deflection did not affect the acute leukemia cases (+5.7% in 2020). The use of peripheral blood-derived stem cells (+10.7%) and cryopreservation (97.4% of the centers) was highly adopted in 2020. Despite the sanitary emergency, almost all of the surveyed centers declared no impact of SARS-CoV2 pandemic on the transplant timing and outcomes, and the sanitary policy was positively evaluated by the majority of centers. The emergency measures ensured that only a minority of the allo-HCT patients had been infected by SARS-CoV2; however, a mortality of 42.1% among the allo-HCT patients hospitalized for COVID-19 was recorded. This survey gives us the information that the GITMO Group reacted positively to the pandemic. Thanks to the emergency strategies, the Italian allo-HCT activity continued safely, showing only a minor deflection and offering the same probability of cure to the transplanted patients.