A report of haploidentical allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for inherited bone marrow failure in Sri Lanka

Bone marrow failure (BMF) in children can be idiopathic (70-80%) or inherited. Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only cure for both causes. Allogeneic HSCT requires a suitable donor. Many children will not have a HLA matched sibling or unrelated donor. A haploidentical donor is available for all children as each parent will have at minimum a 50% HLA match. This report of a 7-year old girl with BMF treated with a haplo-HSCT, the first in Sri Lanka, highlights the importance of developing a haploidentical HSCT programme as a potential cure for a disease with a dismal outcome.