The optimal timing in which to use intensive chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in Hodgkin's disease (HD) is uncertain. In 1985, we initiated a program in which this modality was used as the initial salvage therapy in patients relapsing after combination chemotherapy. Fifty-eight patients with HD in first relapse after primary chemotherapy received conditioning with high-dose cyclophosphamide, carmustine, etoposide (VP16-213) +/- cisplatin (CBV +/- P) followed by autologous BMT. All but six of these patients were given a median of two cycles of conventional chemotherapy +/- involved field radiation therapy before CBV +/- P and autologous BMT. These measures were not used as a means for patients selection; all patients receiving such therapy ultimately were transplanted. The probability of nonrelapse mortality, progression of HD, and progression-free survival post-BMT were calculated, and prognostic factors for progression-free survival were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards method. Treatment-related deaths occurred in only three patients. Thirteen patients have relapsed at a median 0.7 years (range 0.1 to 3.5) post-BMT. At a median follow-up of 2.3 years (range 0.4 to 7.2), the actuarial progression-free survival is 64% (95% confidence interval, 46% to 78%). In the statistical analysis, three similarly weighted but independent prognostic factors were identified: "B" symptoms at relapse, extranodal disease at relapse, and initial remission duration of less than 1 year. Patients with no risk factors had a 3-year progression-free survival of 100%, compared with 81% in patients with one factor, 40% in those with two factors, and 0% in patients with all three factors. CBV +/- P and autologous BMT is highly effective salvage therapy for HD patients in a first relapse, particularly in the subset of patients with less than two adverse factors. Therapy must be improved in the future for patients with > or = 2 adverse factors.