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Rehabilitation need and referrals in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: the experience of Quality of Life Working Party of the Rome Transplant Network

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 51, pages 638–639 (2016)Cite this article

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We have read with great interest the article by Laine et al.,1 entitled ‘Rehabilitation referrals and outcomes in the early period after hematopoietic cell transplantation’. The authors illustrated the results of their study, aimed to assess patterns of referral to rehabilitation after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and outcome of rehabilitation. Prompted by this paper, we will attempt to provide some observations concerning four key issues.

In the present paper, rehabilitation referral was reported in 26% of patients, thus suggesting that functional impairment and the related need for rehabilitation were not inferior to one-quarter of patients undergoing HSCT. In our experience, the frequency of motor-function impairment among HSCT recipients is even higher; indeed, in a series of 25 consecutive HSCTs performed in our center (20 autologous and 5 allogeneic, standard conditioning regimen in all cases, median age at HSCT 42 years (18–70)), 10 patients (40%) complained about motor-function impairment, with or without basic ADL (activities of daily living) impairment;2 in a multicenter analysis in our transplant centers network in Rome examining a series of 230 consecutive HSCTs (117 autologous and 113 allogeneic, median age 36.1 years (0.09–68.8)), basic ADL impairment, defined as Barthel Index (BI) <100, was reported in 137 HSCTs (59%); disability was mild (BI=67–99%), moderate (BI=33–66%) and severe (BI=0–32%) in 34 (15%), 63 (27%) and 40 (17%), respectively. Severe disability was observed more frequently in allogeneic HSCT recipients (26/113 (23%) allogeneic vs 14/117 (12%) autologous HSCT patients (P=0.0025)).3

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology, S. Eugenio Hospital, Rome, Italy

    A Tendas, L Cupelli, T Dentamaro, P Niscola, P de Fabritiis & A P Perrotti

  2. Department of Hematology, Stem Cell Transplant Unit, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy

    M R Mauroni, F Di Piazza & W Arcese

  3. Department of Hematology, S. Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy

    F Sollazzo, M Piedimonte & E Conte

  4. Department of Hematology, S. Giovanni Addolorata Hospital, Rome, Italy

    D Saltarelli, I Carli & A Chierichini

  5. Department of Hematology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy

    C Melfa, M Surano & O Annibali

  6. Department of Hematology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy

    F Marchesi, C Viggiani & A C Pignatelli

Authors
  1. A Tendas
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  2. L Cupelli
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  3. M R Mauroni
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  4. F Sollazzo
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  6. D Saltarelli
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  7. I Carli
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  8. A Chierichini
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  9. C Melfa
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  10. M Surano
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  13. E Conte
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  14. F Marchesi
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  17. T Dentamaro
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  18. P Niscola
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  19. P de Fabritiis
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  20. A P Perrotti
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  21. W Arcese
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on behalf of the Quality of Life Working Party of the Rome Transplant Network

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Correspondence to A Tendas.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Tendas, A., Cupelli, L., Mauroni, M. et al. Rehabilitation need and referrals in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: the experience of Quality of Life Working Party of the Rome Transplant Network. Bone Marrow Transplant 51, 638–639 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2015.341

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