Areas of excellence
Transplantation of acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukaemias,
myelodysplasia, solid tumours requiring autografting, bone marrow
failure syndromes (including Fanconi anaemia),
adrenoleukodystrophy, metabolic diseases, osteopetrosis and
haemophagocytic syndromes (HLH).
There is a particular expertise in the use of alternative donors
including matched and mismatched unrelated donors, haploidentical
(half-matched) parents and relatives, and cord blood donors.
Detailed surveillance of patients during transplantation includes
highly sensitive molecular testing for post-transplant viral
infection and detailed, lineage-specific assessment of donor
engraftment ("chimerism").
Further information
Specialist clinics are held both locally and throughout the
South-west region. There is a specific long-term follow-up clinic
for those who are further out from transplantation. Specific
disease clinics also provide advice and general haematological
management for acute and chronic leukaemias, bone marrow failure
syndromes, adrenoleukodystrophy, Hurler syndrome and metabolic
diseases.
There is close liaison with expert geneticists and laboratories
providing genetic diagnosis and counselling in many of these
areas.
Diagnostic Partners
Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) panel testing is available for
the genes that cause osteopetrosis and for causes of anaemia,
neutropenia (low blood neutrophil count), thrombocytopenia (low
blood platelet count), pancytopenia (all blood counts reduced),
bone marrow failure and genetic causes of myelodysplasia (MDS).
Information on these can be accessed from Bristol Genetics
Laboratory at the following links:
Osteopetrosis
https://www.genetests.org/tests/details.php?id=149279
Treatments offered
The service has an international reputation for its pioneering
work in transplantation for those lacking matched family donors,
with more than 25 years of experience in this area. Services
provided include assessment for suitability for transplantation,
detailed patient and donor work-up investigations, transplantation
in HEPA-filtered sterile rooms, immediate post-transplant aftercare
(with cellular immunotherapy where required) and detailed long-term
follow-up.