Abstract
Introduction: Pulmonary complications following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are common and often subclinical. Thus, periodic pulmonary function testing (PFT) is mandatory. This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of long-term PFT surveillance for children undergoing HSCT and identify potential risk factors. Methods: We reviewed long-term PFT for HSCT patients at a tertiary pediatric center. Inclusion criteria were PFT prior to and at least once following HSCT. Results: Fifty-seven patients performed 202 spirometry and 193 plethysmographic maneuvers; 41 were tested during the first year after HSCT, but only 29 were evaluated consistently long term (2–12 years). FVC and FEV1 decreased gradually suggesting a restrictive ventilatory defect: FVC % predicted [mean ± SD] dropped from 91 ± 14% to 85 ± 17% after 0–24 months and 80 ± 19% beyond 2 years (P = 0.01) whereas FEV1 dropped from 95 ± 16% to 88 ± 19% and 82 ± 20%, respectively (P = 0.002). A slight reduction in TLC was observed. Those undergoing allogeneic HSCT had a greater decline in FVC (P = 0.025) and FEV1 (P = 0.025) as did those conditioned with radiation, regarding both FVC (P = 0.003) and FEV1 (P = 0.002). Decline occurred earlier (≤2 years) after chemotherapy compared with radiation. Seven children had severe irreversible obstruction at >2 years despite therapeutic intervention. Conclusions: Most survivors of childhood HSCT maintain almost normal pulmonary function although mild restrictive lung disease may develop, particularly following allogeneic HSCT and conditioning with radiation. Severe airways obstruction developed in a small minority. The surveillance protocol for PFT needs to be followed more stringently to enable intervention possibly before early subclinical changes progress and become irreversible. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2014; 49:1124–1132.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1124-1132 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Pediatric Pulmonology |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Nov 2014 |
Keywords
- bone marrow transplantation
- hematopoietic stem cell
- lung function
- spirometry