1. ¹Haematology Division, Sant'Eugenio Hospital, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
2. ²Department of Haematology and Transplant Centre, Armando Businco Cancer Centre, Cagliari, Italy
3. ³Department of Human Biotechnology and Haematology, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
4. ⁴Pain Clinic and Palliative Care Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
5. ⁵Nephrology Unit, Sant'Eugenio Hospital, Rome, Italy

Correspondence: Dr P Niscola, Haematology Division, Sant'Eugenio Hospital, Tor Vergata University, Piazzale dell'Umanesimo 10, Rome 00144, Italy. E-mail: pasquale.niscola@uniroma2.it

Received 1 June 2007; Revised 10 December 2007; Accepted 10 December 2007; Published online 4 February 2008.

Abstract

Severe pain syndromes may be recorded during all phases of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for haematological malignancies: from stem cell mobilization to the long-term post transplant period. Although the major cause of pain in the setting of HSCT is injury to mucosal tissues induced by the conditioning regimen, pain from several other causes has been reported. In this paper, we review pain and its management in the setting of HSCT.