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Post-Transplant Complications

Decreased bone mineral density is common after autologous blood or marrow transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 28, pages 387–391 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Survivors of autologous blood or marrow transplantation (ABMT) are predisposed to decreased bone mineral density (BMD), but data are lacking on the incidence and risk factors for this condition. Therefore, we measured BMD in 64 of 68 consecutive ABMT survivors (35 men and 29 women) attending the University of Toronto ABMT long-term follow-up clinic. Patients were evaluated a median of 4.2 years (range: 4.9 months–11.4 years) after ABMT. Median age at evaluation was 49.6 years (range: 23.5–68.2 years). At the L1–L4 vertebrae, 17 (26%) patients (eight men and nine women) had osteopenia and one male (2%) had osteoporosis. Mean BMD at L1–L4 did not differ from healthy young adults or age and sex matched controls. At the femoral neck, 30 patients (46%) (18 men and 12 women) had osteopenia and five (8%) (two men and three women) had osteoporosis. Mean BMD at the femoral neck was significantly lower than in healthy young adults and age- and sex-matched controls. By regression analysis, patients with decreased BMD were older than those with normal BMD (P = 0.02). Gender, body mass index, time from BMT to evaluation and presence of hypogonadism were not associated with decreased BMD. Treatment of decreased bone density was instituted and follow-up data were obtained 1 year after treatment in 22 of 39 patients with reduced BMD. Nineteen (86%) patients had stabilization or improvement of their bone density at follow-up. We conclude that, after ABMT, over half of the patients have evidence of osteopenia or osteoporosis. Men and women were equally affected. In our study, only older age at evaluation was predictive for loss of BMD. We recommend the measurement of BMD as an integral component to the follow-up of ABMT patients. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 28, 387–391.

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Acknowledgements

ADS was supported by fellowships from the Canadian Institute of Health Research and the Leukemia Research Fund of Canada. AK holds the Gloria Seymour Chair in Cell Therapy and Transplantation at the University of Toronto and University Health Network. We would like to thank MD Minden (Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada) for his helpful advice and discussion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ABMT Long-term Follow-up Research Unit, University of Toronto ABMT Program, Toronto, Canada

    AD Schimmer, V Ali, M Falconer & A Keating

  2. Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada

    K Mah, A Cheung & M Trus

  3. Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    L Bordeleau

Authors
  1. AD Schimmer
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  2. K Mah
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  3. L Bordeleau
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  4. A Cheung
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  5. V Ali
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  6. M Falconer
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  7. M Trus
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  8. A Keating
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Schimmer, A., Mah, K., Bordeleau, L. et al. Decreased bone mineral density is common after autologous blood or marrow transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 28, 387–391 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1703149

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1703149

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