Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for auto immune rheumatic diseases

Figure 1 Stems cells are harvested from the peripheral blood, bone marrow or umbilical cord. Step 1: Chemomobilization, involves use of chemotherapeutic agents name cyclophosphamide together with cytokines (G CSF) which have a synergistic effect on increasing the stem cell repertoire; Step 2: Leukapheresis, which involves ex vivo collection of large volumes of centrifuged blood products till target CD34⁺ cells are achieved and the isolated stem cells are cryopreserved with the use of dimethylsufoxide; Step 3: Reinfusion of the cryopreserved stem cells preceded by conditioning chemotherapeutic ± radiation regimens.