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Post-Transplant Events

Long-term follow-up of patients treated at home during the pancytopenic phase after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 36, pages 511–516 (2005)Cite this article

Summary:

To prevent neutropenic infections, patients are kept in isolation rooms after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Patients living within one hours' driving distance from our unit were given the opportunity of treatment at home after ASCT during the pancytopenic phase. We compared 36 patients treated at home during March 1998 until December 2000, with 54 controls treated in the hospital during September 1995 and September 2001. The incidence of grades II–IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was lower in the home care group compared to the controls, that is, 17 vs 44% (P<0.01). The cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 52% in the home care group, compared to 57% in the controls. Transplant-related mortality (TRM) was 13% in the home care patients vs 44% in the controls (P=0.002). The probability of relapse was similar in the two groups. The 4-year survival was 63% in the home care patients compared to 44% in the controls (P=0.04). Home care after ASCT is a novel approach that resulted in less TRM, similar incidence of chronic GVHD and relapse, and improved long-term survival compared to controls treated in the hospital.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the caregivers and patients who participated in this study. We also thank the staff at Center for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation and the Department of Haematology for their compassionate and competent patient care. This study was supported by grants from the Swedish Cancer Society, the Children's Cancer Foundation, the Swedish Research Council and the Cancer Society in Stockholm.

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  1. Center for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation and the Division of Clinical Immunology, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden

    B M Svahn, O Ringdén & M Remberger

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  1. B M Svahn
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  2. O Ringdén
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  3. M Remberger
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Correspondence to B M Svahn.

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Svahn, B., Ringdén, O. & Remberger, M. Long-term follow-up of patients treated at home during the pancytopenic phase after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 36, 511–516 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1705096

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