Successful salvage haploidentical bone marrow transplantation in a child with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, when the previously matched unrelated donor tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on the day of stem cells collection.

Liszka, Karolina; Marschollek, Pawel; Gul, Katarzyna; Musial, Jakub; Chaber, Radoslaw; Miskiewicz-Bujna, Justyna; Mlynarski, Wojciech; Kalwak, Krzysztof

COVID-19 pandemic makes us adjust our standards and cope with unpredictable circumstances affecting the whole world around, including the medical field. A 2-year-old boy diagnosed with X-linked Lymphoproliferative Disease Type 2 (XLP2) with concomitant positive PCR test for EBV-DNA was admitted to our transplant ward. His treatment scheme had to be modified at the last moment, because of a donor disqualification due to a positive PCR result for SARS-CoV2 just before the apheresis. We decided to perform salvage haploidentical bone marrow transplant from the patient's mother as it was the only possible option. Now, in a five-month observation period after the HSCT, our patient is in a good general condition. His case convinced us to redirect our approach to transplant procedure preparation. Following the European Group of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) recommendations, we use cryopreserved apheresis materials to ensure the availability of stem cells products before the start of a conditioning regimen.