Very early analysis of graft establishment after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation using the polymerase chain reaction

Summary. We have used minisatellite polymorphisms flanking the apolipoprotein B locus and PCR to demonstrate the emergence of donor specific alleles in peripheral blood at 3–7 d post allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). This technique affords a very early indication of the establishment of stable engraftment, and may identify patients at risk of graft failure or leukaemic relapse. Patterns of T‐cell chimaerism in the first 7–14 d following transplantation may be closely associated with the development of graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD), the graft versus leukaemia (GVL) effect and graft rejection and future application of this technique to the investigation of early T‐cell chimaerism may give further insights into these immunologicaly mediated events.