The first application of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for systemic amyloidosis in China

Systemic amyloidosis is a disease in which abnormal secretion of immunoglobulin light chains by plasma cells in the blood causes organ insufficiency through widespread deposition in the blood throughout the body, eventually leading to death from multi-organ failure of the patient’s heart, kidneys, liver, and intestines. Patients with this disease usually have a survival period of about 14 months, with a general treatment efficiency of only 30% and a one-year survival rate of 58%. Autologous stem cell transplantation is currently the most effective treatment for this disease, with an efficiency rate of 70%. However, due to the presence of damage to multiple organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys of the patient, there are many high-risk factors in the process of stem cell collection and transplantation, and it is considered the most difficult autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, so this procedure has not yet been addressed in China. In January and July of 2006, after thorough preparation, the Department of Hematology successfully performed autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation on two patients with the collaboration of multiple departments, overcoming the difficulties of acute renal failure, cardiac insufficiency, refractory premature ventricular beats, and persistent tachycardia. After several months of follow-up, both patients achieved certain results, especially the second patient disappeared the swelling of lower limbs after 3 months, the albumin increased from 29.7g/L before transplantation to 33.7g/L, the creatinine recovered from 344umol/L before transplantation to normal 112umol/L, the 24-hour urine protein quantification decreased from 5.57g to 2.92g, and now he can walk 2km every day. It has been more than 5 years since the transplantation, and the patient has fully recovered, with all indexes returning to normal, and his condition has remained stable.