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Variability of nutritional practices in peritransplant period after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a survey by the Complications and Quality of Life Working Party of the EBMT

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 53, pages 1030–1037 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Recommendations on screening and nutritional support for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have been presented by international nutritional societies, but nutritional practices remain poorly standardized. Following the general policy of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) to standardize transplantation procedures, the Complications and Quality of Life Working Party and Nursing Research Group carried out a survey among all EBMT centers about their current nutritional practices. The aim of this study was to better understand current practices, differences from available guidelines, and possible barriers for recommended nutritional therapy. Responses from 90 centers (19%) from 23 countries were received. We observed a marked variability in nutritional care between EBMT centers and a substantial lack of standardized operating procedures in screening patients for malnutrition and management of gastrointestinal GVHD. Furthermore, our study confirmed neutropenic diet as standard of care in most centers as well a preference for parenteral nutritional support over enteral. On the basis of these findings, future EBMT efforts will focus on better implementation of international nutritional guidelines into clinical practice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Zinaida Peric

  2. Hematology Unit, Oncology Department, Azienda USL-IRCCS Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy

    Stefano Botti

  3. Hematology and Transplant Unit, Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK

    Jacqui Stringer & John Murray

  4. Department of Hematology, Oncology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

    Joanna Krawczyk & Grzegorz W. Basak

  5. EBMT Data Office Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Steffie van der Werf & Anja van Biezen

  6. King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Mahmoud Aljurf

  7. European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy

    Sarah Liptrott

  8. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK

    Diana M. Greenfield

  9. Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain

    Rafael F. Duarte

  10. Clinical Research Institute, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

    Tapani Ruutu

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  1. Zinaida Peric
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Peric, Z., Botti, S., Stringer, J. et al. Variability of nutritional practices in peritransplant period after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a survey by the Complications and Quality of Life Working Party of the EBMT. Bone Marrow Transplant 53, 1030–1037 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-018-0137-1

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