ABSTRACT
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was first proposed as a therapy for autoimmune diseases in 1995 (1,2). Since then approximately 800 HSCT for autoimmune disease have been reported to the European Bone Marrow Transplant/European League Against Rheumatism (verbal communication-Passweg J., Basel) and International Bone Marrow Transplantation registries (verbal communication-Bredeson C., Milwaukee). While most HSCT for autoimmune disease have been performed in adults, indications for HSCT of childhood autoimmune diseases include juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Crohn’s disease (CD), and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).
