Theoretical and practical issues of autologous versus allogeneic stem cell transplantation in multiple sclerosis

Autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have some common and some clearly distinct goals. All current available information suggests that autologous HSCT should remain the standard approach to clinical HSCT for patients with severe autoimmune disorders, including multiple sclerosis. Allogeneic HSCT should be considered in rare patients with specific features that they are likely to benefit more from an allogeneic HSCT, e.g. young patients with no co-morbidities and hematological autoimmune cytopenias.