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

Correspondence: BM Svahn, Center for Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, B87, SE-14186 Stockholm, Sweden; E-mail: Britt-Marie.Svahn@karolinska.se

Received 1 March 2005; Accepted 19 May 2005; Published online 18 July 2005.

Abstract

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.