The role of bone-marrow transplants after nuclear accidents.

The probability that bone-marrow transplantation will be beneficial after nuclear accidents depends on several factors, including circumstances of the accident, degree of damage in other body systems, and radiation dose. Transplant-related variables, such as donor-recipient histocompatibility and post-transplant immune suppression, are also important. The benefits of transplantation may result from transient or permanent haemopoietic reconstitution. The balance of potential benefits versus risks should be individually calculated for each accident and each patient; generalisations are likely to result in untenable conclusions.