The Hematology Center of the Internal Medicine Clinic at the Clinical Center of Montenegro (KCCG) has successfully conducted four hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) since the start of the year, as reported by the health institution.

According to KCCG, apheresis (the collection of hematopoietic stem cells) has been performed on three additional patients, who are scheduled to undergo transplantation in the near future.

“These patients have malignant hematological conditions, and this treatment is their only chance for a cure,” the announcement stated.

KCCG highlighted that all patients who underwent transplantation experienced no complications and were discharged in satisfactory condition for continued treatment at home.

They noted that the first transplant took place on February 17 of this year, making it the first stem cell transplant in Montenegro.

Prior to the establishment of this advanced procedure at KCCG, patients were sent to foreign reference centers for treatment.

“We want to emphasize that this complex procedure is being conducted independently by the KCCG Hematology Center team, with support from the KCCG Center for Clinical and Laboratory Diagnostics and the Blood Transfusion Institute of Montenegro (ZTKCG),” the statement added.

Additionally, the KCCG Science Center organized an expert meeting on Monday as part of its continuous medical education initiative.

The introductory lecture was presented by Vesko Vujičić, director of the KCCG Internal Clinic.

“Internal medicine specialists and hematology subspecialists from the KCCG Hematology Center, Enisa Žarić and Nikola Bakić, delivered lectures on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, including a review of stem cell mobilization for the autologous transplantation procedure, as well as post-transplant patient monitoring,” the statement noted.

Furthermore, Tanja Antunović from the Center for Clinical and Laboratory Diagnostics of the Croatian Cancer Society presented a lecture on the role of flow cytometry in autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Ivana Milašević also gave a talk on assessing the viability of hematopoietic stem cells in apheresis products.

The KCCG reported that Tamara Šćepanović from ZTKCG discussed the collection of hematopoietic stem cells from peripheral blood.

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