Study on prophylactic effect of fludarabine in graft-versus-host disease

Objective To study the prophylactic effect of fludarabine in graft versus host disease (GVHD) after bone marrow transplantation in rat models. Methods SD rats were transplanted with Wistar rats allogeneic bone marrow transplantation model. SD rats were divided into 4 groups. In group A and B, fludarabine was given as prophylaxis against GVHD. Group A and B were under condition with fludarabine for 4 days at a dose of 1 mg/kg per day 1 prior to transplantation, and received TBI 2 Gy and 6 Gy 4 hours prior to BMT; Group C and D were exposed to doses of 2 Gy and 6 Gy TBI at the same time. All these recipient rats were injected with donor bone marrow cells at a dose of 3.8×10 7 bone marrow cells per mouse by tail vein. Afterwards we observed GVHD of the four groups. Results Survival periods of rats received fludarabine were longer than that of rats only received TBI ( P 0.05), and the severity of graft versus host disease was also milder. Conclusion Fludarabine can effectively prevent GVHD and alleviate complication associated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.