Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants: Principles and Indications

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation was proposed as a treatment strategy just over 60 years ago. Owing to great advances in the field, haematopoietic stem cell transplantation has become an established method for the treatment of many haemato-oncological, immunological and hereditary conditions with the potential of cure. The number of haematopoietic stem cell transplants performed worldwide reached one million by 2012. This review provides an overview of autologous and allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation including disease indications, the individual steps of the procedure and outcome, and highlights achievements in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Although autoimmune conditions account for only 1% of indications for autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant, this is increasingly used to treat high-risk autoimmune diseases. Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation can induce long-term remission by resetting the immune system via eradication of autoreactive immune cells and the generation of a de novo self-tolerant immune system. Data seem most encouraging in multiple sclerosis and systemic sclerosis and it is likely that the number of procedures performed to treat these conditions will rise in the future.